[Prissy]

My bank lender just got back to me for the credit score nad it's still the same as the first time. Who should I contact now? I need to dispute those 2 negative accounts, but I have no access to annualcreditreporst.com anymore. Do I call Transunion, Experian, and Equifax? What else is needed to be done to get my score back up? I am really confused here about the steps, who to contact..etc. Once again please help.



I forgot to mention that both of my negative accounts has $0 balance.

[solefald]

my experience with the disputes has been negative.
basically a credit report agency writes a letter to the company that put the negative mark on your account, and if that company writes a letter back, saying that those charges are true (even without submitting any proof), the credit reporting agencies will take their word for it, over yours.

the only way to fix your credit is to pay everything on time, and wait for up to 7 years to wait for all bad stuff to fall off the record.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by solefald

my experience with the disputes has been negative.
basically a credit report agency writes a letter to the company that put the negative mark on your account, and if that company writes a letter back, saying that those charges are true (even without submitting any proof), the credit reporting agencies will take their word for it, over yours.

the only way to fix your credit is to pay everything on time, and wait for up to 7 years to wait for all bad stuff to fall off the record.

1st negative account=GAP card (never used, $0 balance, closed)
2nd negative account=Bloomingdales VISA card ($0 balance, no payments for 90 days, didn't know account existed, Bloomingdales charged it off, account closed)

[Blake]

usually, if you need to dispute something, they'll let you look at your report free....at least that's how experian does it. go to their websites and go to where you can initiate a dispute online, the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

[xtac]

If you never used the gap and bloomingdale card how is that negative?

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by Blake

usually, if you need to dispute something, they'll let you look at your report free....at least that's how experian does it. go to their websites and go to where you can initiate a dispute online, the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

I guess I might have to sign up the free trial... but is there a need to contact GAP and Bloomingdales' creditors?

[Blake]

Originally Posted by Prissy

I guess I might have to sign up the free trial... but is there a need to contact GAP and Bloomingdales' creditors?

NO...free trials are for suckers. i'm talking about something completely different. i'll link you, plz hold.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by xtac

If you never used the gap and bloomingdale card how is that negative?

ya NEVER used the Gap card, maybe I closed the account and it became negative

[Blake]

do you have an old credit report laying around?

[xtac]

Originally Posted by Prissy

ya NEVER used the Gap card, maybe I closed the account and it became negative

That's a big MAYBE

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by Blake

do you have an old credit report laying around?

What do you mean? I don't have... But I used annualcreditreport.com yesterday and got my reports, I forgot to print them out and I also forgot to dispute the negative accounts

[jlstyle]

Well probably everyone knows...
But all you need to do is paying off your debt to get the score up instantly.
If you are in 600 range and you pay up 40~60% off your debt, your score will go into 700 range next month or so.

That credit score report Washington Mutual used to provide really rocked...

[Blake]

Originally Posted by Prissy

What do you mean? I don't have... But I used annualcreditreport.com yesterday and got my reports, I forgot to print them out and I also forgot to dispute the negative accounts

ahh can you not reaccess them? if you can get the report numbers, you can dispute without having to pull another credit report.

[jlaw]

IMO it's worth paying a monthly fee to have access to your credit reports and scores. I use CreditSecure (available to any Amex cardholder for ~$11/month) to track my three reports. I also subscribe to Equifax's $10/month service to keep tabs on my score with them, as they are the most commonly-used agency.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by jlstyle

Well probably everyone knows...
But all you need to do is paying off your debt to get the score up instantly.
If you are in 600 range and you pay up 40~60% off your debt, your score will go into 700 range next month or so.
That credit score report Washington Mutual used to provide really rocked...

Ya Iknow, but I have no debt, everything $0 balance.

Originally Posted by Blake

ahh can you not reaccess them? if you can get the report numbers, you can dispute without having to pull another credit report.

can't reaccess them w/o paying.

[Prissy]

Just got my credit score/report from my bank lender.. I am gonna call the 3 bureau

[Seminole]

Here is a little secret. If you open a dispute for a negative comment the credit agency has to immediately take it off while the investigation is opened. This can last for up to a month. You could always dispute those two things, temporarily raise your credit score, apply for the loan you need, and be done before the negative things are put back on. Not that I'm suggesting to do that or anything.

Also, if I'm not mistake, you can add up to a 100 or so word statement next to any negative comments on your history that a potential lender can see when they look up your score.

[Blake]

Originally Posted by Seminole

Here is a little secret. If you open a dispute for a negative comment the credit agency has to immediately take it off while the investigation is opened. This can last for up to a month. You could always dispute those two things, temporarily raise your credit score, apply for the loan you need, and be done before the negative things are put back on. Not that I'm suggesting to do that or anything.

i don't think you're correct about that. i recently repaired my credit and the negative items remained on my credit report through all the disputes with all 3 credit bureaus. they don't adjust anything until either A.) the creditor returns correct/updated information or B.) the creditor does not respond within the allotted time thus removing the item from your report.

[FStop7]

creditboards.com <--- this is the best place to go for your questions. There are people on there with many years of experience of dealing with the credit reporting agencies as well as various collection agencies and creditors.

One thing I know they will tell you is to not call the CRAs on the phone. Do everything in writing. Anyway, go check out the forum. It is a great resource.

[Seminole]

Originally Posted by Blake

i don't think you're correct about that. i recently repaired my credit and the negative items remained on my credit report through all the disputes with all 3 credit bureaus. they don't adjust anything until either A.) the creditor returns correct/updated information or B.) the creditor does not respond within the allotted time thus removing the item from your report.

Hmm, well to be honest, I was just repeating what my professor told us the other day. Didn't bother looking to much into it.

[Prissy]

Originally Posted by FStop7

creditboards.com <--- this is the best place to go for your questions. There are people on there with many years of experience of dealing with the credit reporting agencies as well as various collection agencies and creditors.

One thing I know they will tell you is to not call the CRAs on the phone. Do everything in writing. Anyway, go check out the forum. It is a great resource.

I joined myFICO's forum. I'll check out creditboards.com

[Spool]

How do you get a negative account when u don't use your credit cards? Makes no sense, i've never heard of this before...what exactly does it say on the report that was negative?

I keep track of my credit weekly, making sure no one stealing my identity, i had that happen to me 4 months ago and it took forever to clear my name...