Hey all, I've been lurkin on here for 2 months or so - took me a while to figure out a strategy. Also took me a while to get the difference between "validation"and "verification" and between CA and CRA. I thought I share some of my successes and failure after my first round of disputes: Experian: On line dispute - 1 collection act, 1 charge off, and a bunch of lates on 1 tradeline deleted. Dispute by phone - they deleted duplicate addresses and funky spellings of my name Dispute by fax - they claimed not to receive it so I added that dispute over the phone. Equifax: (I have to deal with CSC - no online!) Written dispute (sent regular mail) 1 charge off and 1 collection disputed. Dispute by fax - they did accept this and are investigating. Transunion: Online dispute 1 collection deleted, and I asked for a late pay delete and they deleted the tradeline (I would have complained but that account is actually in collection so I kept mum. I still have 9 outstanding delete requests with CRA's and 5 validations out to collection agencies. I figure I'll let the dust settle before moving on. All in all about 20% of the bad stuff is gone. I know it could come back but I'll deal with that when and if it happens. My initial goal was just to shake loose the low hanging fruit and start the documentation trail. I've been awfully polite when talking to the CRA's on the phone, and any fibs they tell me or mistakes reagrding my rights I just document. As a result I haven't sent any CRRR to the CRA's 'cuz for now I'm playing an innocent. I take a much harder line with the CA's, sending stuff CRRR and with the validation letter form the library tarted up for me and attaching a copy of the Wollman letter explaining what kind of validation I want. Some of the stuff on my report is mine and I will pay it, I am just first hoping to get some leverage with their screwups to allow pay for delete or partial payment to not pay ridiclous fees and interest. Anyway you newbies out there - I know it is confusing at first. It takes a while to figure out who has good advice and who is a little loony. Its hard too 'cuz some people have things fall off magically and some people have a much harder time. When I have sterling reports then I'll give actual advice - till then I'm just learning and doing the best I can like the rest of us. Cheers, Tom
Thank you for posting that. I feel I am at this stage where I can go either way...and your post made me realize it is going to take some time.. Question, what is CRRR? CRA? CR? I still haven't figured those out. I am sure it's a stupid question.
It's not a stupid question. CRRR- certified return receipt requested CRA- credit reporting agency CR- credit report or CRedit (depending on the content its placed in)
What is the wollman letter? Where did you get it? After the CRA's updated your file did they send you a new one reflecting the updates or did you have to request it?
Thw Wollman letter is an FTC opinion letter reagrding valdiation practices and the FDCPA. Here is the link: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/letters/wollman.htm I havent received responses yet from them collection agencies I sent it to. Hope this helps: Tom
