I recently checked my credit report and found an inquiry from a "PROGRESSIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC." I have no collections on my credit report and this is the first I've heard of this outfit. When I disputed it with them I received the following letter: --- Dear Mr. XXX: I've been asked to respond to your September 12, 2007 letter which we received on September 16, 2007. I apologize for the delay in getting back to you but I wanted to be absolutely sure about the law before I responded. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681b(a)(3)(A) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, a consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to a person which it has reason to believe "intends to use this information with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished, and involving ... or colelction of an account ..." Subsection 1681 also states that the report can be provided where the person requesting it otherwise has a legitimate business need for the information. The collection agent who pulled a copy of the report had such a legitimate need ... to verify infomration through which she could locate you so that she could discuss the collection of an overdue account. She did not need to secure your authorizatino to request a copy of the credit report. When such a legitimate inquiry is made, no action is taken to "remove" the inquiry notation on your report. If you have any questions, please do not hestiate to contact me directly. Sincerely, Barbara A. Hoerner, Esq. Corporate Counsel ---- This was a very nice letter, quite possibly the nicest I've received. However, I still have no idea as to what the collection in question is or how to request verification or additional information on it as I have no account numbers, dates, amounts, etc. I literally have no information aside from this letter and the presence of a hard inquiry. Any ideas?
Send a request for validation to the debt collector that accessed your report. You have an initial contact now and they have five days to respond as to the nature of the debt.
? Would that be the lawyer I received the reply from or just a "To Whom it May Concern"? The collector's name is not listed in the inquiry.
Adding to what Apex has suggested; wait five days, then send the DV letter. Even though the CA does not have to respond, it is my considered opinion that should a CA fail to DV or at least provide a letter of assignment, then that CA has failed to prove they had a PP to pull your report. Read Pintos v. PCA.
