I currently have problems with both Ford Motor Credit and national bank of Alaska. In 2001 I made contact with Ford and talked to their people. At the time Ford reported my lease as both a repo and bankruptcy. I asked them to correct it. They did on one credit report but not on Exp. I made another complaint on 2/6/2004 about the repo reporting by Ford. In 2001 I had good communication with Ford and they were not hard to work with. However if it remains after this dispute what can I do? It kills any chance of getting an auto loan period. I know bankruptcy is not much better but repo in 2001 is I think worse then bankruptcy in 1999? I have no idea but it is all screwed up. Now my other problem is National Bank of Alaska continues to report another issue that was in the bankruptcy as a bad debt and collection charge off. The problem is Wells Fargo bought NBA. If they refuse to remove the information what can I do about it? Dispute it again and again and again until I die of old age? It is all annoying and worse still TU sent me a letter demanding my Bankruptcy filing before they could continue the investigation of similar problems with their reporting. If they continue to report it falsely is it grounds for going to court? If I did have to file in court to have it remove or corrected do I have to file in Federal or can it be brought to small claims in Alaska? This is really frustrating, I mean yeah I screwed my credit up, I went bankrupt but how long should I be punished for things that really there is little control over once you pass a point of no return plus at least it should be fair and not all screwed up. I do not ask for something for nothing but I am tired of asking them to fix these issues. Also is it very hard for a laymen to file in federal court? I have no money to hire lawyers for this. I know there is lots of information out there so I am sorry for asking the same old questions but I just wanted a straight answer if anyone feels up to it and I am just a bit confused. Thank you Scott
You're right. A recent repo makes it nearly impossible to get a car loan. I had this very same issue with Subaru Credit (now a subsidiary of Ford Credit). If you have the proof that it's not a repo, you're probably going to end up having to take Ford and Exp. to small claims court and ask a judge to order them to report it accurately. Auto finance companies fight hard to try and keep negatives on your report. It's a good hedge against low interest rates. The CRAs fight just as hard because the finance companies make them more money than you and I. Get your proof in order. Send copies of it to the CRA. Advise them that (1) you dispute the repo; (2) that you're enclosing proof that it's not a repo; (3 that they're required to consider your info; and (4) that they must correct or delete. There are some great sample letters around here that can help get your started. But be ready to sue. It'll probably be your only effective means.
