I am disputing and requesting validation from AFSA Data Corp who managed several student loans. The loans have since been consolidated into one loan through the ford loan program. AFSA lists three negative TLs on my report for late payment (including over 150 day delinquency). I sent them a validation letter and they responded with a form letter saying: "The enclosed document was sent to our office. We are having difficulty locating this account in our files. Please assist us in servicing this account accurately and promptly by furnishing the additional information requested below." They check off (1) "COMPLETE ACS account number" (2) Social Security Number And also check off "We are returning the enclosed document (My validation letter). We do not service the borrower's account." My question is this: If I respond am I helping them validate? Should I just ignore this, let the 30 days go then nail them with the next one? OR If I fail to respond, and end up needing to sue will I be hurting myself b/c they can claim I didn't respond? For the record I gave the the account number that is listed on my CR - which is the same as my SS#, just without the zeros at the beginning. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
If they checked off something that says "We do not service the borrower's account" and they have a TL on your credit report, then I would send a copy of the validation letter you sent, a copy of the reply from them with that line highlighted and/or circled and forward them to the CRAs. Tell them that you do not want them to start an investigation, but you want them to use the documents that you forwarded as proof that the debt is not yours and immediately delete the TL from your credit report. HTH, Brett
Be careful dealing with AFSA Data Corp. they are dishonest! They burnt me a few years ago. I am still trying to find info to get them on (which I think I may have stumbled upon recently!). Make sure that you keep detailed records for everything.
Thanks for the advice. I actually have disputed it twice with the CRAs - they always "veify" which is total BS. In fact they just this month finished a verification. AFSA has now at least changed 2 of the three lines to no lates it looks like - and they are paid. There is one more that they still say was 150+ over. I sent a CRRR letter to all three CRAs yesterday with the response letter from ASA - I'll let ya know how it goes! How has ASFA been dishonest in the past? I'l love to know what to be prepared for. They are obviously jerks...and the more I do this the more I'm convinced these CRAs just make a quick phone call to say "Hey, do you have person XXX in your records? Oh, you do, ok, we'll verify then!"
