I've been thinking more about CHOD. I've seen opinions that we should plan for the CRAs to receive our disputes on or about Nov. 26-27. If this were the case, they would be received the day before Thanksgiving thus they would have 1 or 2 days removed from their alloted 30 day deadline. HOWEVER - As I look over a calendar, I wonder why it wouldn't be better to plan for the CRAs to receive our disputes on or around Dec. 2,3,or 4. In that case, the results would be due the first week of the new year. This time frame would incorporate Dec. 25, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1. All of which are holidays thus eliminating 3 or more days from their alloted 30. Plus 7 weekend days whereas the Nov. date would give 8 weekend days and be due on a weekend (most likely Nov. 28, or 29). Chances are that there will be more people out on vacation during the X-Mas/New Year holiday than on Turkey day, right? Any theories on this? What is the psychology of it all (PsycDoc)? I think that we should all be in sync as to when we are going to try for CHOD, at least as much as possible.
§ 611. Procedure in case of disputed accuracy [15 U.S.C. § 1681i] (a) Reinvestigations of disputed information. (1) Reinvestigation required. (A) In general. If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly of such dispute, the agency shall reinvestigate free of charge and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph (5), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer. (B) Extension of period to reinvestigate. Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the 30-day period described in subparagraph (A) may be extended for not more than 15 additional days if the consumer reporting agency receives information from the consumer during that 30-day period that is relevant to the reinvestigation. (C) Limitations on extension of period to reinvestigate. Subparagraph (B) shall not apply to any reinvestigation in which, during the 30-day period described in subparagraph (A), the information that is the subject of the reinvestigation is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or the consumer reporting agency determines that the information cannot be verified.
WELL, IN THAT CASE...I'M MAKING SURE MY DISPUTE ARRIVES ON NOV. 26 (exactly 30 days before christmas). THIS WAY, THEY'RE LOSING DAYS AFTER THXGVG (the weekend) AND CHRISTMAS WEEK WILL, MORE THAN LIKELY, BE A SHORT WEEK FOR THEM TOO. *EDIT* THIS FORMULA COULD POSSIBLY SHAVE 2 TO 3 EXTRA DAYS DUE TO THEM NOT WORKING.
It seems like there is not much difference. in a given 'normal' month there are approx 20-22 weekdays. during the time frames that we are talking about there are 19 non-holiday weekdays. I am not sure if they are staffed on the weekends or not... (I would LOVE the answer to that question, and I may ask it the next time I call). --- I almost fail to see how 3 days would make a difference (unless I did the math wrong). What we are banking on is employees being on vacation or 'out sick' during the holidays, add to that receiving everything in a relatively short time frame and we hope that they will let some stuff slip through the cracks...
I think that's pretty much the jist of it. I would think that more people would take off nearer to xmas than turkey...take off on vacation prior to and after xmas....call in sick prior to and after....I've done it myself....less people to work on disputes....that's the only magic.....but from what I hear, that magic really works!!
around my work, most people take off the day after thanksgiving if they can. some take off the day before. Me, I'm taking the day before and the day after. X-mas, most people take of 2 days before or 2 days after, or take the whole week. Me, I'm taking an entire week from Dec. 19, to Dec. 23 and don't get back until Dec. 26. Therefore, I think CHOD should be based on the CRA receiving the dispute around Dec. 3 or so... opinions please
ACTUALLY, WHAT I THINK WE'RE BANKING ON IS...THE NUMBER OF DISPUTES COMING IN. I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THEY WILL HAVE AN "MORE THAN NORMAL" NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OUT. IN FACT, MOST EMPLOYERS HAVE A POLICY OF NO VACATION TIME IS TO BE TAKEN DURING THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER TO THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY. ESPECIALLY IN AN CONSUMER TYPE JOB SUCH AS THEIRS. BUT OF COURSE, THERE ARE EXEPTIONS. HOWEVER, IN MY OPINION, UNLESS THEY'RE IN UPPER MGMT., THEY'LL BE AT WORK. NOT TO RAIN ON THE PARADE THOUGH. I'M STILL HOPING IT WORKS. THIS IS JUST MY VIEW AS A REALIST.
It just happens that I didn't use up any sick or vacation time during the course of the year like everyone else, so I have extra time off. Plus all the overtime I put in too. But you are right, the turn-over rate where I work is astoundingly low compared to a typical 'customer service' type job.
I'm going to try and find out if the CRA's bulk up for Xmas. My daughter told me that she has a friend that is a computer programmer for EX in Allen. Charlie
Hmmm, maybe I could pick up a part time job for a month or two around x-mas. I'll show 'em how to mass-process some disputes!!! ;-)
Here is my calculation: Assuming start date is 11/25: 30 calendar days MINUS 8 weekend days MINUS 2 bona fide holidays (Thanksgiving & Christmas) 2 questionable days (Christmas Eve & Day after THx) EQUALS.... 18 total days to investigate There has to be some factor in here for the fact that: 1. Employees will miss more work--vacation, sick, etc. 2. Employees will take partial days off to shop, attend children's parties, etc. 3. Employees will have some down time related to their respective department celebrations, etc. 4. Everyone (myself included) is not at their peak productivity at this time of year. You have a million and one things on your mind and hopefully my dispute is not one of them! Alternatively: Filing a dispute on 12/3/02: 30 calendar days MINUS 8 weekend days MINUS 2 holidays (Christmas and Jan 1) 2 iffy days (Christmas Eve and New Years Eve) 18 total days to investigate HOWEVER: I do think that the whole week of Christmas is shot for most people. Even people who highly prize their careers will be likely to take off the 26th & 27th of December and probably the 23rd as well. So, maybe ideally you want to make sure that dispute ends on 12/27/02 (starting on 11/27/02). You get the least number of days to work on the dispute with the highest liklihood of a very slow last week. Remember the credit card issuers will be just as bogged down--more purchasers, more calls to customer service for CL increases, holiday spending promotions, etc. They will have the same issues as the CRA's with personnel too. Last year I was a complete rookie at all of this. I filed a dispute, with no knowledge whatsoever of CHOD on 11/13/01 ending 12/13/01. The same logic held. 5 for 5 deletions with TU on accounts that have not been deleted from the other two yet! There is some science behind this whole idea. I am going to do online disputes with TU, fax with CSC/EQ, and CRRR with Experian. I also think it doesn't have a lot to do with physically opening an envelope. That doesn't slow them down that much. They can also take a couple of days (up to 5) to get it into dispute. Good luck everyone. I can't wait to see our collective results. Lisa
Great post Lisa, did you factor in the New years holiday too? I may not have done the math right but I still think that starting 12/3 or 12/4 and ending 1/2 or 1/3 is the best bet...
PAE, I think I am with you on this idea--12/3 or 12/4 though one day longer than the 11/25 idea may be better. Who knows? Like I said, I filed one last year on 11/13 having no clue that it would have a better chance than any other. It still stands as my most productive dispute. I keep coming back to the issue of "slow weeks." The week of Christmas and the week of New YEars are slow everywhere. By starting the 3rd or 4th you would get full advantage of the Christmas rush from the creditors side.
