I've decided to go at it. I almost used Lex because it just seems too unsurmountable for me, but I'll try a few rounds. Here's what my report looks like and what I plan on doing. Thoughts, suggestions? Assoc/Citi - I have no idea what this is (my CitiBank card appears further below) so I'm going to send a validation letter to Experian and TU (doesn't show in EQ). Bank of America - now when I switched cards because of a lost card, EQ and Exp updated it but TU just added a new line. I'm going to go at it with Bank of America and call them and let them update it. Capital 1 - this is one of the CCs that was obtained fraudulently with my social (LONG story) - EQ and EXP are now updated, TU still shows, I will contact Cap 1 for this (they have been very responsive). Citi Cards - I have a LOT of lates. Through Planet Feedback, Citi reopened my card (I had a 5k credit limit and now have a $300 cl). How would you go about removing all lates? Discover - lots of lates. What is the best way to get rid of lates without saying "not mine" ? EMCC XCOM2 - collection account that I sought out and paid - shows only in TU as Unrated or Bankruptcy. How do I get rid of this one? Best Buy - I had one that was closed. This one shows open but BB has no record of me in their computer and want me to fax a copy of the CR so that they can update it. It shows no lates. CompUSA - lots of lates. Same question - how to get rid of lates? Shows open in TU and closed (as it should be) in EQ and EXP. MJ Altman - I have 7 collection entries, 2 of which show a balance even though I paid this collection in full (medical bill). How do I get this off my report? OfficeMax - again, many lates. How to remove? University Credit Union - Sprinkled 30-day lates. Same as above. MBNA - Exp has a 120-day past due. Currently they have me on a special 0% plan until August 2004 so I don't want to do anything to get them mad at me. I still owe ~$1400. Could someone tell me the situation is not hopeless please How do you find out the date of first negative activity? Also how do you differentiate between a hard and soft inquiry? I've gone over the 40+ pages that is the FAQ, Doc's Primer, the Goodwill and Nutcase and Son of Nutcase and Estoppel etc letters, the glossary, DaveLV's trick and I've gone over the FDCA, Fair Billing, and all those other laws also Thank you!
If you don't want to dispute these things as "not mine", then you have 3 choices. 1) dispute as never late 2) goodwill or nutcase letter depending upon the situation 3) do nothing. Personally, I would start with not mine. Even if you don't want to. If you dispute as never late and they verify, that's it. You won't be able to dispute it later as not mine. If you start as not mine and they verify, you can later dispute as never late.
The reason I don't want to do Not Mine is because I'm going to try to get as many reopened as I can. I got CitiBank reopened. CitiBank for one I can't say Not Mine Would Goodwill on all of them through PFB be the way to go? My situation now is so much different than three years ago. I usually pay my bills as soon as I can see them on the Internet now.
If you are going to try and have them reopened, then I don't see much alternative than the goodwill letter. Good luck.
I would start by sending off a first round of disputes to the CRAs. I would dispute Assoc/Citi, Cap1, EMCC, Best Buy and the MJ Altman accounts as they appear on each CR. You might find that a lot of them are simply deleted. I think that has been my biggest lesson with regards to fixing my credit. Don't make it harder than it is until you have to. Sometimes getting the baddies off is easiest by disputing. Also, I would make certain that all these accounts you want to have reopened will do so along with updating your account to "Pays as Agreed." They really hurt you reporting lates. If they won't report you in good standing, I'd dump them and start fresh.
If there's any creditor that responds well to goodwill letters, it's citibank. I sent them a letter about removing a 60 day late payment, and they did. Several people have also had success getting lates removed by Citi. I sent my letter via PFB
