Need Advice for Cleaning Up Credit Report

[casmith1980]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Nevada

Ok, I'm going to try to make this as short as possible so I don't bore you guys too much:

I went through a divorce 8 years ago, I'm happily married again, but my credit was RUINED from my choices as a child. Needless to say, 95% of the items on my credit report are ancient (past the Statute of Limitations)...I've successfully gotten the original creditors to remove their items off my credit report, but the collection agencies have remained. I've sent the "you're past the statute of limitations" letters, but nothing has happened. They continue to send me their bills and even received one letter back saying that the statute of limitations began for them when the purchased the account (yes, I know that is false).

So, what I'm looking forward is some advice. I need to clean my credit report up and get these things put away once and for all. What's the best way for me to do so? Should I hire an attorney or is this something that I can do on my own? I really don't feel like spending a lot of money cleaning this up, but I know in the long run it will be worth it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Courtney

[justalayman]

You need to be dealing with the credit reporting agencies, not the creditors.

[casmith1980]

The problem is, the only thing I can do with the credit reporting agency is "dispute" the actual item...they don't give a hoot if the SOL has past or not, nor do they care if the collection agency is the original creditor.

Do I continue writing letters hoping that one day they will be removed, or do I bite the bullet and actually call the CA's themselves? If I contact the CA's, will this restart my time for SOL?

I've suffered through the last 8 years with less than stellar credit, just waiting for my "7 years" to be up, now that it's past, my problems are still there, but worse because some original creditors are reflected as multiple collection agencies


DC - are you around? I've read many of your posts, and I am looking forward to a response from you

[Zigner]

Well, you will need to work with the CRA's, not only the CA's.

[casmith1980]

Should I begin with letters to the CRA's or the CA's?


Also - if I write the CA's, will this reset the timeframe for the SOL?

[justalayman]

I've suffered through the last 8 years with less than stellar credit, just waiting for my "7 years" to be up, now that it's past, my problems are still there, but worse because some original creditors are reflected as multiple collection agencies

So, what did the CRA's reply when you informed them the SoL has expired and the report must be updated?


The CRA's must entertain your dispute. If they fail to correct your report when it is impropery, you have an action against the CRA's.

[casmith1980]

Originally Posted by justalayman

So, what did the CRA's reply when you informed them the SoL has expired and the report must be updated?


The CRA's must entertain your dispute. If they fail to correct your report when it is impropery, you have an action against the CRA's.

The credit reporting agencies have never responded with anything but "this is a valid debt"...they don't ever mention the SOL of the item, just that it was "verified accurate".

is there some letter that I should be sending them to show otherwise? The majority of the original creditors are gone because it's past the SOL, but the collection agencies remain

[debtcollector`]

Originally Posted by casmith1980

The problem is, the only thing I can do with the credit reporting agency is "dispute" the actual item...they don't give a hoot if the SOL has past or not, nor do they care if the collection agency is the original creditor.

Do I continue writing letters hoping that one day they will be removed, or do I bite the bullet and actually call the CA's themselves? If I contact the CA's, will this restart my time for SOL?

I've suffered through the last 8 years with less than stellar credit, just waiting for my "7 years" to be up, now that it's past, my problems are still there, but worse because some original creditors are reflected as multiple collection agencies


DC - are you around? I've read many of your posts, and I am looking forward to a response from you

SOL has nothing to do with credit reporting. An item remains on your credit report for 7 years plus 180 days from date of first default -- for most purposes. Obvious exceptions are security clearances, insurance and employment checks for jobs paying more than $75k a year.

No. You will not restart the SOL by disputing the item.

DC

PS Ladynred is the person I would talk to about disputing problems with credit reporting. You might want to try searching her posts.

[justalayman]

Originally Posted by debtcollector`

SOL has nothing to do with credit reporting. An item remains on your credit report for 7 years plus 180 days from date of first default -- for most purposes.
.

Is that not a statute of limitations that places that time period on reporting?

[casmith1980]

Thank you guys for all your help.

I just got finished doing all my dispute letters and I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Experian to clear up some personal information that was incorrect. Hopefully I'll begin to get some letters back shortly.