Since beginning in March, I am happy to say that my experian score has gone from a 519 to a 583 and DH's from 505 to 568. I've not checked the other yet. So my next step... Wells Fargo verified their account. It's not a really horrible account anyway. It has 3 - 30 day lates and is closed and paid in full as off 2002. However, those 30 days are wrong as I made a payment with a money order, that was cashed by First Security (the co. who owned the account before WF). I have a copy of the money order that shows where First Security endorsed the back with a stamp but the numbers under the name on the stamp are blurry. FS and WF both said that it's was my responsibility to prove that FS received this payment and just the endorsement doesn't count. I had to figure out where that money went through the MO company. The MO company sent me a printout of random numbers and said the banks would understand how to read it. They didn't. This was all in 2002-3. In 2004 I called Wells Fargo to once again try to get this figured out. They told me that all those records are kept in a storage facility off site and that it would take weeks to find my information. So how is it that they verified the account with the CRA in such a short time? I am sure that 3- 4 year old 30 days aren't affecting my credit hugely, but I am certain it's cost me in the past. And dang it... I was treated like crap for months and months by 2 different companies because of their incompetence. I want it figured out. I am going to send a letter to Exp requesting how this account was verified. Is that all I need to be doing?
If you are sure of your claims, then send them your proof with my Providian letter. Dispute directly with them. If it takes "weeks" to research, this works in your favor. I would dispute all lates while I am at it. See "getting down to the nitty gritty".
Are they claiming they weren't paid, or that your payment was late? What is visible on the copy of the money order? Does it show that FS processed it? Does it show a date, or dates, for processing? Separate from what they "accept", what would a judge accept? You: "Your honor, this money order shows FS's stamp on the back, the amount matches my statement from them, and it went thru these two banks on xx/xx/xx." WF: "We can't read the smudged numbers, so we don't know where we put the money. And we have not been able to find our records." Judge: "You got paid. The date was xx/xx/xx. Why are you wasting my time?"
