I am new here, and I am in the process of "trying" to repair my own credit. I have a couple of questions regarding disputing charge off's and late payments. What would be the best way to go about disputing a charge off? I was debating on saying "not my account" but, it was opened back in 1999 and I think it would be rather obvious that it was mine... but then, I wouldn't know what else to say... Never late, paid.. ?? Next, my car.. late pay! It has a few 60 day late payments on it.. how would I go about disputing that? My main priority is to get the charge offs taken off my report. I have 2 of them from American Express. And the late payment is my next priority. Any advice would be appreciated!!
just beacause it was opened in 1999 doesnt it mean it is yours.. if you dont want to dispute it as not mine you can dispute something like. DOLA wrong or someth other inaccuracy.. I am not sure never late would really work since it has been charged off. About the 60 day lates.. the only thing I could think of is never late.. of course if you did that it possible the CRA might delete the tradeline completly.. One of our credit experts here might be better suited to help you.. These are just some suggestions I can think of.
My success with charge-offs as well as late-pays was to delete them as not mine (careful with the late-pays as the tradeline might fall off in its entirety). I see the CRA's as I do any other 3rd party, i.e. Starbucks or Taco Bell. I do NOT feel that the guy behind the counter at Taco Bell should have the right to know my SSN, my place of employment, or prevent me from an interest rate that I would otherwise be entitled too. It is with this in mind that I have chosen to proceed by disputing all negative information as 'not mine'. It can be a moral challenge, as it was for me, until I realized that these CRA's should have no right to my personal information, as I do not have any right to their's. Since they go to all the trouble of reporting my information, I believe that they can go to all of the trouble of proving that the accounts are truly mine. Disputing an account as 'not yours' is not where the ethical dilemma lies; as it is up to you to pay the debts you truly owe, to the original creditor. These are 2 separate issues. I didn't mean to ramble, but I had the same apprension at first.
Thanks! So, if I were to dispute the charged off account as "not mine", or do I need to elaborate on this by basically write a letter stating that they are reporting something inaccurately, and that this account is not mine. I never opened this account, have not ever had an American Express card, etc. What is the best "tactic"? And, this may be a dumb question.. but, is it ok to dispute it online as "not mine", or is it most important to write a letter and keep copies?
I have done all disputes by mail. I have simply noted the account #, and said that 'this account is not mine'.
I have had some success with online disputes.. I cant say for sure if its better or worse than a mailed in dispute.. typically it takes the same amount of time to get an answer from them either way.. some things you cannot dispute online or at least with eq that is.. previous addresses etc, other names etc.. I am not sure about EX. and I think you can dispute just about anything onlin with TU.
I agree with disputing it as "not mine". It may work and it get's deleted. If you dispute it as anything else, you confirm to the CRA that the account is yours. See if the not mine dispute works and then go from there. Have you disputed all your old addresses so they get removed? It sometimes helps with disputing older items. It is one less piece of info that matches when they contact the OC. Touching on whether it is morally right, it is up to you. It is all a personal opinon. I agree with Chipper though. It is up to them to prove that the account is truly yours.
Good Point. First thing i ever did was have all previous addresses removed. Then I waited for an updated report. I forgot about that.
