Okay, this one should be easy but I couldn't find the information anywhere. I cleaned up my girlfriend's credit a while back (quite successfully; 595 -> 710 score average and got her a vehicle lease at Tier 1) with all the help here. One of the items I got removed was a chargeoff from Verizon New England that was not hers. But now...a collection for AFNI has shown up on her report with Verizon New England as the original creditor. Truth is, it didn't just show up. I haven't checked her bureaus in a while and it says (on all 3) that it's been reported since June. She never got any type of correspondence in the mail and never had a phone message from AFNI (though we screen our calls and from time to time ever since I began her repair years ago there is a message saying "call back such and such person about such and such account number" which we ignore). Anyway, I'm thinking DV but in the Letters section the very first DV letter states that "To hold any teeth whatsoever, this letter must be sent within 30 days of initial contact by the CA." But if we've gotten no notification within 30 days of June or SINCE, can I still start with DV Letter #1 and follow the pattern? PS: I have disputed (today) through CMRR the fact that this is hers with the bureaus. I stated that it pertains to a previously disputed chargeoff from Verizon. I submitted copies of Drivers Licences and W-2s showing that at the time Verizon claims she was charged off, she indeed lived in NY, not anywhere in New England. But I doubt that the bureaus will connect the dots. In other words, they can see that the collection is connected to Verizon NE but they don't know the details of Verizon's chargeoff since I successfully had that removed. So whatever proof I send them about where she lived and when doesn't relate to any info on the AFNI collection. They'll probably just contact AFNI and say, "Is this hers?" "Yep." "Okay, thanks." Dispute denied. So I guess the second part of this questions is: do the CRAs keep any info on file showing I disputed the first debt as not hers which is now showing up as a collection? And will that facilitate things?
It would be nice to think that the CRAs could connect the dots and see that the collection is from a charge off that was already disputed and deemed to be inaccurate. However, like you said, I doubt that will be the case. You'll likely need to attack this collection on it's own. I would wait to hear the results of your disputes through the CRAs (maybe you'll get lucky) and then proceed to DV the CA. Even if you've missed the 30-day time period, it can't hurt to move forward with the DV. I don't see how they could possibly validate it if the charge off wasn't hers in the first place.
