I have read many ways to dispute, and sometimes the information is conflicting and leaves me confused. Perhaps the correct answer depends on each individual circumstance? Maybe one method is best for some, and others can be handled another way? I posted a thread here with the few items of concern for me. I need to start taking some kind of action, so I think I will start by disputing all negatives as "not mine" and see the results of that. maybe 1, 2 or more will be just get deleted, and whatever is left over, I'll go to another method to try to remove, repair, whatever. I have credit monitoring with MyFico (Equifax), and you can dispute online or by phone. I began the online method but stopped to ask these questions. I would have to complete some info (name, address, soc #, etc) I have read somewhere that anything you say, any info you give, may be like handing them statements that may not serve you well in the long run - it would be YOU providing accurate info about YOU, so later YOU cannot claim something is not correct, or, that now you have just provided info that maybe before the lack of that info was something you could have used to claim "not 100% acurate" and try to get delete or have legal recourse. (I hope that made sense!) (basically, I think if something is incorrect on a report, there are things I can do that could have good results for me, but if I give them the info, now they have correct info, and I shoot myself in the foot. - lose any potential tactic I might have had.) This is why I am so afraid to take a step - for fear that what I do will hurt me, not help me. I have read, read, read, and the info is overwhelming, confusing, sometimes conflicting. I know that people here know what to do, that's why I am asking here. Thanks.
Suzie, I don't think it matters which way you dispute. I think if you dispute online it works more in their favor because they companies are so quick to verify that way. I have heard most say that they would dispute through all methods...like getting three chances. I think the information you are referring to as shooting yourself in the foot is like sending in BK papers if they ask for them..don't ever do that! They already have your social and more than likely your address unless you have moved recently. Hope this helps! And as many would say, myself included I think you might want to read into DV if your disputes come back as verified, even if they debts are yours. This has been a great help to me. Best of luck!
Looking at Experian's site to dispute (through the link given on MyFico to dispute), they not only want to know your name, address, soc. #, they want to know birthdate, phone number, employer's name and info, and past addresses if less than 2 yrs at present address! Some of these fields may or may not be required (some are marked with an asterik, some are not, but there is no code for why that is, however, it could appear that the asterik means required, and birthdate, employer, and past addresses do not have asterik) If I try to proceed without completeing some of those fields, and if I am forced to enter info in these fields, I wonder if that goes against my rights, forcing me to provide more info than necessary, for their records. I know I've heard something about being able to challenge/dispute by saying something is incorrect, and by me providing this info may cause me to lose a legal footing if needed later - all they would have to do is update with info I gave them, and correct it on report (not delete). This would be that "shooting myself in the foot" thing I mentioned previously! Any thoughts?
Well, I did complete that online dispute today. And those fields with asteriks were required, so the attempt to get past addresses and employer info did not work - I did not complete that part and it was not required. Seems to me the way Experian set that up was a bit underhanded - no codes to tell what was required and not, so it could have some thinking they need to complete everything, which may give them (and others, like maybe CA's?) more info that YOU provided un-necessarily. Hoping for best now... Suzie
Only give them the necessary info. Never admit to anything. Don't send them anything that could help them tie the debt to you. If you do, they have it on file forever.....and ever. And also, dispute any old addresses/ex employers etc that you had when you defaulted on any of your neg tradelines. This way they have less info to verify the bad acct. This is easy to do, just call them up and say this info is incorrect, please remove. just the facts maam!
