What happens if I can't locate the CA to send a letter of validation or the address of a company that did a pull w/o authorization? Shanyl
Thanks ontrack! Now if I could just get a live body on the phone. I spent most of yesterday calling every number for the 3 that I could locate and only connected with pre-recorded info.
Write--return receipt requested. Ask them for the info. If you disputed and they verified, ask who they verified with. If you haven't disputed, why not just dispute and maybe it gets removed. Calling a CRA is as worthless as talking to a CA.
Hi Hedwig! So, iow, I'm making this more difficult than need to? I'm trying to chase down all of the addresses for the TL's that I have to sent validations to. I should just start with the CRAs if I don't have an addy on the CA? Also, Hedwig can you please please clarify something for me? If I have an account that is SOL, but not being pursued by the CA, when I contact the CA (which I have to do prior to disputing it with the CRA right?) do I still want them to validate since it's so old? Oh the other hand, if I did a C&D based on the SOL, I'm demanding that they stop something they aren't doing. So????????????? In an SOL case do I just dispute with the CRA and leave the CA out of it? Thanks Hedwig! I really appreciate all of your answers. Shanyl
Hey there - just want to jump in on the question you asked to Hedwig. You can - and should - start by disputing everything with the CRA. THEN send validation letters to the CAs that remain after the disputing sweep. Your task list should be as follows: 1. Go to each CRAs website and order your report. This will cost about $12 each, although in some cases you might be able to get them for less. Make sure to PRINT AND SAVE a copy of the reports to prevent any scum sucking CAs from re-aging your accounts. 2. Dispute all your old addresses 3. OPT OUT of all promotional uses. This means the CRAs can't sell your info to anyone. 4. When the addys drop off, go back online and dispute all of the lates and charge-offs as "not mine" 5. The CRAs will send you the results within 30 days. 6. When you get the results, start your validation with remaining CAs. Good luck to you Poochie
Hey there - just want to jump in on the question you asked to Hedwig. You can - and should - start by disputing everything with the CRA. THEN send validation letters to the CAs that remain after the disputing sweep. Your task list should be as follows: 1. Go to each CRAs website and order your report. This will cost about $12 each, although in some cases you might be able to get them for less. Make sure to PRINT AND SAVE a copy of the reports to prevent any scum sucking CAs from re-aging your accounts. 2. Dispute all your old addresses 3. OPT OUT of all promotional uses. This means the CRAs can't sell your info to anyone. 4. When the addys drop off, go back online and dispute all of the lates and charge-offs as "not mine" 5. The CRAs will send you the results within 30 days. 6. When you get the results, start your validation with remaining CAs. Good luck to you Poochie
Poochie! Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much for your post. You pulled my head out of..... the clouds and I can finally see clearly! WOW, I almost did it backwards!!!! I've already sent off (Monday) my dispute over the old addresses, incorrect alias', wrong DOBs etc. I'll be watching my reports daily so that I can get the next batch of letters out as soon as they've updated them. Thank-you Thank-you Thank-you again! Shanyl
One small adjustment. The dispute first with the CRA's may work for all CRA's except for EX, you usually only get one shot with EX, so you want to make sure its a good one. If you dispute all negs with EX hoping they will fall off, the ones which don't you may be stuck with for the remainder of the 7 years, because EX tries to respond to any future investigation requests as PREVIOUSLY VERIFIED.
Hi jam237. So what do you suggest regarding EX? Can you expound on "make sure it's a good one."? I have about 8 SOL accts there and 5 "not mine" accts. Dare I do all at once or should I split them? Thanks! Shanyl
Here are 2 good ways to locate collection agencies. 1. Do searches in Google, Yahoo and maybe other popular search engines. Just enter the name in the search box and see what comes up. 2. Go to your public library. They have reference books and can look up just about any company.
Re: Re: If I can't locate the CA? Tried that only to find that most CAs aren't very creative or original in naming themselves.... They all go for the same names all over the US of A. I'll just wait on the CRA's... someone has to earn their keep. Shanyl
Re: Re: If I can't locate the CA? Ok, not an expert, but I think if you dispute with EX, and it comes back verified, and you then demand validation fro the CA and don't get it, and dispute again with EX you have grounds for a suit if they come back with "previously verified". You have the right to demand that EX furnish you with a copy of the method they used to "verify" your information. I believe that is called a procedure request. You may want to start a new thread to get some of the validation experts to respond. Make sure to read Psych Doc's primer at the top, as well as LBrown's link for newbies. Also, as someone else mentioned, during the "verification" process the CRAS will obtain correct mailing addresses for the CAs (otherwise how could they "verify" information?). The only problem is that you might need a street addy as opposed to a PO box in order to send CRRR correspondence. There was a well-known credit guru who had a list of street addys on his site for a lot of CAs, I can't remember his name though (Dave Ramsey maybe?) anyway, a google search is always a good place to start.
Re: Re: Re: If I can't locate the CA? Even with a PO Box someone from the company that picks up the mail in the box must sign for Certified Mail
Re: Re: Re: If I can't locate the CA? Thank you Poochie! I truly appreciate this help. I'll also look up the Dave Ramsey information on his site. Shanyl
