I posted this tidbit on creditboards and thought I would post it here on creditnet for some input and advice. I posted a few weeks back about this phantom Travelers Bank collection account posted on my TU credit report. It is NOT mine and I haven't a clue where it came from. I disputed it last summer, it got verified, then I got busy with another pressing matter and forgot all about it. I find out that CITI bought Travelers. I call them and ask about this account. They Customer service rep said they would investigate. I did not have an account number to give them. Now, I get this letter in the mail yesterday from Citibank asking me for the following: 1. clear copy of SS card 2. copy of credit report from the reporting credit bureau that reflects this account. they will research this matter further.... we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. thankyou for banking with CITIBANK, yaddayaddayadda Should I send in the requested documents? or should I just ignor the letter and dispute with TU again? suggestions please! cheers, piggycat *************************************** Update, on 2-29-04 I disputed this TL again, saying it is not mine. Yesterday, I received a form letter from TU about "policy for information retention" based on the FCRA.... and a copy of my credit report. There under the long paragraph about the following accounts contain adverse information..... was this Travelers Bank TL still listed as a "profit and loss writeoff" "charged off as bad debt" there was no indication of any information update or reinvestigation or validation on TU"s part. Also, I have been disputing a First USA account listed as included in BK 7 & all these late pays notations, as not mine, trying to get it removed. They show it "in dispute" and have shown it in dispute since Oct 2003 or longer. PLEASE HELP! I need suggestions and advice. thanks, piggycat
Should I send in the requested documents? or should I just ignor the letter and dispute with TU again? piggycat ========================= No because they could use them to cement it to your reports. ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <
Well I will start with this disclaimer and state that i am new to this credit repair thing buts I can say a few things to you that i have learned in the last few weeks so here goes: What I do know is that you should NOT be sending any documentation to citi bank at all. The Burdon of proving this debt as yours is solely on them, and if they canâ??t verify with the documentation they currently have then it needs to be removed from your credit file. Also as tempting and as efficient as it may seem try to refrain from using the phone when contacting them. This will only hurt you in the long run. You want to correspond to them only in writing that way you have documented proof of all correspondence between you and the companies your dealing with should any further action be necessary between you and them. Remember when you write them do not give them any more info then they might already have IE., Birthday, Copy or your signature, SS#, Previous addressees, middle name, etc. if this first debt is truely not your you may want to report that to the CRA's if you havent done so already. also when you write your validation letter make sure you include the fact that this is not your. Hope this helps in someway and if not it at least I gave you a bump JD
Thanks you guys. I have been hanging around the credit boards for a while and have found a wealth of information. Everyone is great and always helps out. I have found it best to ask about what I need to do before I do it. So, when I got Citibank's letter, I thought WOW, they cannot find the account, I can get it deleted. But I wanted to ensure that I was thinking correctly. I figure I can demand deletion because I know that Citibank cannot validate/verify the account. Since TU keeps reporting the FIRST USA account in dispute, shouldn't I demand deletion as well? I am just wanting to get this right so I can get it off my record. lining up my little piggies! Thanks, piggycat
Actually, they're doing what they should do. They're trying to investigate what's being reported without pulling your credit report (something they're not allowed to do if they don't have any business with you). Reply to them, certified, return receipt. Send them the copy of your credit report with most of it blacked out for your privacy (put that in your letter back to them)... leave your name, address, report number, date, and their trade line...they should be able to find the account based on that info... and if not then it's not valid anyway....NOT YOUR SSN STILL ON IT... Tell them in your letter you are not giving them your ssn for privacy concerns since you have no business with them. Also make them aware that they are required to not only remove the trade line from your reports since it's not yours .. but you want a letter from them that they will not collect on it, assign it, or sell it in the future... Tell them they have thirty days from receipt of this letter or you will sue them for fcra violations.
What is the FCRA violation for CITI not investigating a dispute sent DIRECTLY from a consumer?? -THERE IS NONE which is actionable by the consumer in the FCRA. Section 623 (a) IS NOT ACTIONABLE by a consumer. See section (c). ONLY (b) is actionable by the consumer, and ONLY AFTER the consumer sends the DISPUTE to the credit reporting agency FIRST IF you have sent a dispute to the CRA, and even went "so far" as to contact the "furnisher of information", you already have a cause of action againt the CRA for not "assuring the accuracy of the credit information", FCRA 611, and CITI for state law violations against the "furnisher" (if available), and section (b) of 623.
well, I am thinking that the cra did not actually verifiy it and just said they did. how can they verify it if Citi cant even find it for me? The CRA has left it in "dispute" status for at least 4 months now. I am thinking I should demand deletion by the CRA based on both of these factors? wadda ya think? cheers, piggycat
wadda ya think? ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> From a preacher in California > >As some of you may know, one of my son's serves in the military. He is >still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me >know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops, >everywhere he goes. Telling me how people shake their hands, and thank >them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms >but so that others may have them also. > >But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at >yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several >people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when >she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S.flag lapel pin >the cashier wore on her smock.The cashier reached up and touched the pin, >and said yes, I always wear it. > >The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop >bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. A gentleman >standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's >shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to >the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this >young man have fought and died so that you could stand here, in MY >country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing your countrymen. It is >my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR OWN country we >wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey? if you have now learned how to >speak out so loudly and clearly , I'll gladly pay your way back to Iraq >so you can straighten out the mess you are obviously here to avoid." _______________________________
wadda ya think? ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> ><- <>- ><- <> ~~~ ><- <>- ><- <> From a preacher in California > >As some of you may know, one of my son's serves in the military. He is >still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me >know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops, >everywhere he goes. Telling me how people shake their hands, and thank >them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms >but so that others may have them also. > >But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at >yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several >people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when >she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S.flag lapel pin >the cashier wore on her smock.The cashier reached up and touched the pin, >and said yes, I always wear it. > >The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop >bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. A gentleman >standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's >shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to >the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this >young man have fought and died so that you could stand here, in MY >country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing your countrymen. It is >my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR OWN country we >wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey? if you have now learned how to >speak out so loudly and clearly , I'll gladly pay your way back to Iraq >so you can straighten out the mess you are obviously here to avoid." _______________________________
