EXPERIAN, Equifax, TransUnion Credit Bereau Reporting Agencies ripoff- they wont fix your report (even w/PROOF), they are run by the BANKS, and do thier Allen Texas

All 50 states require by law, if you own a vehicle, you must have insurance.

The insurance companies, funded there own study and came away with that, people with bad credit, are more at risk to file a claim, which I think is total bull.

So, the states allow insurance companies to charge alot more, which is nothing but a rip off.
As long as the insurance companies are allow to keep throwing money to the lawmakers, people will still get screwed over

Your driving has nothing to do with a credit report, except to make the insurance companies alot more money

As I said before.. we all need to find a way to bring a "class action law" suit against the bureaus.
I was forced to sell my home and lose it,(to get some of my large equity out of it), rather then losing it compleatly in forclosure... and wer'e not ok.
My scores are still below #500. (and I dont see them going up anytime soon, no matter what methods are done)... .. and I wound up worse then before I started... (Ive obviously ticked off a bank or two somewhere)..
(and in comment to the insurance.. how is it they can base your credit on your reports and scores??.. in "37 years" Ive NEVER had an accident or ticket, and yet, becasue of my credit scores, I get a bad higher rate (they say, they believe bad credit makes bad drivers).. WHAT CRAP !!!
M.H, Kirkland WA

I have spent hundreds of hours and wasted time and personal costs several times in the last 2 years or so dealing with all 3 agencies. I have filed all required papaerwork and tried to remove derrogatories on my reports, and in some cases, was limited to number of removals I could demand corrected.

The process and procedures for an honest consumer who really has problems that are not their own like mine showing I lived in California for instance(which I never did), and other such wrong marks on my report, is a very painful process.

I recently discoverd with trans Union itself, that inquiries and repairs I made which in effect should have made my score increase actually saw it decrease, because each time I obtained my report, gave proof of the wrong marks, trans Union's score scale changed! I mean investigating this closer we found on reports sent back to us with corrected information, the scale now was elongated from the original scale, so in effect, my higher score was ranked on a larger scale length now which made it actually worse than the score when we initially requested our report and found many derrogatories.

I made formal contact to FTC about this and CC'd correspondence to Trans Union, and in the end, we only got an explanation from Trans Union which made no sense and seemed to satisfy the FTC and everything was over with.

But as I complained to our banker the other day, the US credit system was created and desigend at a time when Americans had industrial growth and incomes and the system is outdated and cannot be applied to today's economic world or demographics with all the industry change, income losses, outsourcing, loss of jobs & retirements, etc. millions of Americans are affected by. She just stared at me and said "I know it takes time and if you just keep making your payments as you have, it will benefit your score in time...". The credit bureaus also are weighted in favor of any "banker" or such lender or institution and is a viscious cycle not fair at all to the consumer; especially in today's world.

And the insurance companies themselves, have developed their own credit analysis weighted system to base your rates on utilizing "other data" from the credit bureau reports, but not using the credit score from them..

Another example which is ruining many good Americans are automobile accidents not caused by their fault. At least here in NC; we lost a new car from a rear end collision by a utility truck whose driver was distracted by his partner and slammed into us at about 50MPH while we were stopped in traffic with my 4 year old son, totaled the car, sent me and my son to hospital and eventually months of therapy, etc. We lost everything we had to exist upon (plus I lost a federal job due to my injuries I was to leave for 2 weeks after the accident) and believed all this would be settled quickly- but it is now 2 years...

But since here in NC, the State gives insurance companies 3 years to settle medical claims for auto accidents, etc. (yes we have a lawyer too), all the medical costs in NC that go unpaid after 1 year, now go on your credit report (as ours did) and now effectively has pushed my credit score down into 500 range! NOBODY will deal with us with such a low score and this is not right.

We CANNOT pay $tens of thousands in medical costs- the faulted party's insurnace is supposed to... This has now forced us to go to welfare so we can get groceries, etc.. Because of our lower credit score, we found a low priced car older than the new car we used to have to get by with, but because of the credit scores, we are now forced to go to sub prime lender and in NC, they are allowed to charge up to 29% interest!!! So we have this high priced piece of *&*& car and forced to live less than what standard we had before this whole accident ever occurred...

Ourselves and other victims of the same fate go through medical needs and hell for so long, and after 2 years, the faulted party's insurance company refuses to settle for all the losses and medical costs and drags our case on (like many others) all the while our credit is ruined and this should not be allowed in such cases!!! Also, attornies get 33% of the gross before anything gets paid!

In such accident cases, they should first pay ALL the victim's medical costs accumulated so that at least shows on credit reports, then the attornies take 33% of that Net, and what is left, we, the victims get. Right now, 33% off the gross of settlement is robbery, and then medical costs are paid second, then the victims last.. Just not right and another thing wrong in America today that needs overhauled...

there is a much easier way to have stuff removed. they have computer programs, i have one. It's called Credit Repair by made E-Z Software. It's great. No problem ever. Cleaned up my husbands and mine. It includes all the letters you need to correct your reports.

I have found a website that can help you www.ftc.gov/os/statutes. This gives you the statutes that may help you with these credit reporting agencies. If you click on The fair credit reporting act as ammended in 2006 and scroll down to ? 611. Procedure in case of disputed accuracy [15 U.S.C. ? 1681i] (a)(1)(b-c) you might get some useful information

"M",

I never use a lawyer for credit matters. I do it all myself, as it is very easy. The credit bureaus only store and manage information reported by their subscribers. They only have the responsibility to process the dispute, they are not responsible for the accuracy of the information, the person reporting it to them is.

Under the provisions of the FCRA a consumer has the right to get copies of any verification supplied to fight a disputed item. The credit bureau cannot legally just say it was validated unless you let them get away with it. They need to prove it. They only get away with what people CHOOSE to let them get away with.

The reason for multiple letters is multiple junk debt buyers buying it and re-reporting the same item. It starts all over again at that time until you run out your 7 year negative reporting from date of charge off.

I walked away from 34 accounts more than 4 years ago, and most of them are past SOL and now uncollectable, but I am still entitled to ACCURATE reporting.

I just re-read your response..
Can you give me the name of your atty that sues the bureaus, so I may use them too?.. I havent been able to find one (since its federal, it shouldent matter what state they are located in).
M - kirkland wa

The law Mr.Bush set out (once again.. and if you were to ask anyone in the Bureaus) is 30days. However,*the bureaus will tell you if they are working on it, or waiting for responses from the disputed creditors, or if thoes creditors still genericly respond they the debt is valid (since its not up to eather of them to prove it), could take you out months and months.

Even after removal, it is still on most creditors "automated" computer generated (paid services) reporting times. So if the Bureaus remove it, it will probally re-appear after 60 days, during the creditors automated reporting period (which repoerting at the bureaus is only once a month, to remove or add information). Certifyed letters only prove you certifyed them... as I said, (and you agreed) you need to sue the bureaus (if you can find an atty. that does that).

And as for the punititive damages you may recieve, you have to find an atty, the (provable) harm created by the actions of the Bureaus (which basicly has no resopnsibility to the consumer, since they claim they are only reporting what's given to them), has to be so severe as to warrent the suit (rather then suing against each reporting creditor, wheather yours or not, if you can find each individual creditor), and if its not your creditor, you wont get all the account information needed to track the wrongly reported account to give to them to remove the line item in the first place.

You situation must be one of non-complication, but I must ask, why do you have to certify to them "all the time", if it works the first time ??, and in your defence of the bureaus, are you a consumer, or one of thoes "help you fix your credit companies"?

"M",

You information on credit bureau disputes and removal is totally inaccurate.

President Bush signed a bill into law shortly after taking office. The law is "30 days prove or remove".

>>>"M" wrote:>>>
It is not so "easy" to get your reports fixed, as you say...it's way more complicated then that!
Wer'e told there is a 30-day response time law for the bureaue to fix... wrong.

The bureaus have 30 days (to "begin" working on your case/file.. not 30 days to fix it).
>>>

No, once more by federal law, it is 30 days to prove or remove. The 30 days starts upon the date your dispute is recieved.

>>"M" wrote>>
I have tried through the FTC (they cant do anything but regester a complaint, and referr you to your Local State Attorney General Offfice). Then your AGF can create a file, contact the bureaus, *but can't make the beaures perform. Bottom line, if the bureaus wont fix the problem (and most working in there are min. wage people, with no authority to make changes or decisions... and your no allowed to contact anyone in the departments that can), on top of that, they claim they have nothing to do with your credit scores (wrong again), but the likleyhood of finding how to fix that is pretty unlikley. You have to seek an Private Attorney that specificly sues the bureaus (good luck finding that).

All the writing, calling, regestered mail, ect, wont fix the problem. (why do you think they have all these compaines that say the'll help you, for a fee)??.. and beware of thoes.. if you sign up with one of thoes (that doesent have much more clout then you do), you lose your right to sue the beaures. The beaures are run and directed by the major banking industry. They do as directed. And if for some reason your in a bad place with one of thoes major banks, its likely you will have nothing but grief for years an years. (unless you sue).. sad, unfair, but the facts.

M - Kirkland, Washington
U.S.A.
>>>>

Well, regardless of all this, the FCRA is very clear. All it takes is a CERTIFIED letter, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself and make a copy for your records.

This is you proof that your rights, and the law were violated. Now you file your lawsuit and collect your winnings. It is that easy. I do it all the time.

As soon as you make them accountable, and quote the exact violations, and the penalty, the item gets fixed or removed.

You are entitled to be paid for all damages resulting from inaccurate reporting. However, it is up to you to enforce your rights, nobody else will do it for you. It's called a lawsuit.

Trust me, I am well aware of how shady these guys can be. They threw my ol mervyns account in there from way out of left field..literally not one bit of correspondence for 15 years, then Bam..there it is, luckily the removed it right away, but still it is my time wasted.
Same with RJM, they bought a paid off Wards account and are asking me to settle for a fraction of what is owed..well that would be $0 as that is what is owed, that account is from 1991 as well, my credit is spotless, took me years to get it there and I will take any means necessary to keep it that way..aside from paying bogus claims that is, if I have to spend more in court than what the claim is..I will, it's not about the money, it is the freakin principle.

The laws NEED to be changed. There is literally no oversight and the consumer is guilty until they prove themselves innocent.
What is sad, is that as consumers, we have to pay money to monitor all the CRA's daily. Yeah, the freebie they give by law is nice, but once a year c'mon, your file could be ruined in that amount of time. Does anyone know of a movement to change the way our information is reported? Any grassroots type orgs?

But in short, M, yeah, you are right...the CRA's, Banks, federal government, they are all in this together..

It is not so "easy" to get your reports fixed, as you say...it's way more complicated then that!
Wer'e told there is a 30-day response time law for the bureaue to fix... wrong.

The bureaus have 30 days (to "begin" working on your case/file.. not 30 days to fix it).
I have tried through the FTC (they cant do anything but regester a complaint, and referr you to your Local State Attorney General Offfice). Then your AGF can create a file, contact the bureaus, *but can't make the beaures perform. Bottom line, if the bureaus wont fix the problem (and most working in there are min. wage people, with no authority to make changes or decisions... and your no allowed to contact anyone in the departments that can), on top of that, they claim they have nothing to do with your credit scores (wrong again), but the likleyhood of finding how to fix that is pretty unlikley. You have to seek an Private Attorney that specificly sues the bureaus (good luck finding that).

All the writing, calling, regestered mail, ect, wont fix the problem. (why do you think they have all these compaines that say the'll help you, for a fee)??.. and beware of thoes.. if you sign up with one of thoes (that doesent have much more clout then you do), you lose your right to sue the beaures. The beaures are run and directed by the major banking industry. They do as directed. And if for some reason your in a bad place with one of thoes major banks, its likely you will have nothing but grief for years an years. (unless you sue).. sad, unfair, but the facts.

After refuting the Mervyns account online, I received a notice yesterday saying the information has been removed.

Thanks Steve, I was curious if they verified anything...the fact that my 3 year old son is now getting credit offers in the mail confirmed it for me as well. Of course you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to be able to check your childs report even though there should not be one on a 3 year old in the first place..UGGHHHHH! Now I have to cough up cash to send what amounts to an identity thiefs pot of gold to the reporting agencies just to be able to check my kids reports for fraudulent activity.

Crazy system, or lack there of.

Tim,

Unfortunately, the credit bureau is not required to verify anything before an entry goes on your crdit report.

The burden is on the subscriber to be sure the info reported is accurate.

This is why we have the FCRA and dispute procedures. You are entitled to recover damages for any erroneous reporting.

Tim,

You are right, this entry is very unusual and even though it is not negative it can still affect your credit score.

Credit bureaus do not verify anything until a customer makes a dispute. They are not required to.

The subscriber [creditor] is supposed to verify information as accurate before reporting to the credit bureau, and most creditors use automated reporting that comes directly from their account records.

A 15 year old account should not have even been maintained.

It seems as thought items can be thrown on ones report with zero verification by the reporting agencies. It goes in in seconds and takes months to clean up. Does anyone know if they do ANY verification before reporting things?

Example, I opened and closed a mervyns account back in 1991, I get a notice from equifax saying that my experian report has a new account added, turns out it is my old mervyns account from 1991, with a report date of 3/2005.

Now I check my report regulary and also have the credit watch thing and there was no mervyns account on there in 2005 when I bought my car or house. Also, instead of closed, it says transferred/closed.

I am contesting it, but my god, don't they have anything that would flag this as being a bit out of the ordinary? Of course I am contesting it and its dates...and it isn't exactly a negative, but d**n, why put it on there 15yrs after the fact?

"M",

I can see the reasons you are having difficulties. The main one is that you want to do business on the phone. STAY OFF THE PHONE!!

The next is you need to use a good word processing program with spell check, and get a good sample of a business letter format. Communicate ONLY in writing, and by certified mail, return reciept requested. Put the certified# on the letter itself, and keep a copy for your records, as well as the mailing reciepts.

This now makes them legally accountable, and you have proof if you need to go to court to enforce your rights under the FCRA. The FTC has sole jurisdiction over the credit bureaus, and the only way to enforce your rights on an individual basis, is to sue. However, you can file complaints online at FTC.gov.

The FCRA is very clear on this issue, and when you quote the law to them, and clearly state the problem that is in violation of federal law, they fix it right away, from my experience.

In your letter to the CRA, you need to enclose a legible copy of your SS card, as well as your drivers license or other state or federal issued picture id.

In this letter clearly state what information is erroneous, and demand it be removed.

Simple.