Will constant letter writing to credit reporting agencies make them finally remove some things on my report?
439735
From what I understand, the letters have to be timed out carefully. The agencys have 30 days to comply. If not, then you can leaglly sue. \n\nHowever, their responsiblity is to verfy the information. If they can verify the information, then they will make the appropiate change. If they can not verify, chances are they will delete it. So if you keep writing over and over about the same problem, chances are nothing will be resolved (unless they did not do what they are leaglly bound to). Wearing down won't happen as they can simply call your letters a nuesence and not deal with them. \n\nYou should read the Fair Credit reporting Act to get an understanding of your rights.
352273
Yahoo just had something on the homepage about devious "junk buyers" buying old debt for pennies on the dollar and then trying to make you pay even after the statute of limitations had passed-I know there is limits but as to what they are I can not 100% tell you.  \n\nAnd actually it is never 'removed' from your credit report, but companies only 'pull' a 7-10 year history, so it does not show, the debt is always listed on the report, so it never really disappears, just hanging out in old debt land, and if you go for a Senate Hearing or something they will pull it up.\n\nThe report said something about the basement buyers buying the debt and then reporting it as a 'new' debt to get it back active on your Credit Report, which is against the law.  The report also said they target those that paid some debt, because they were more worried about the ramifications of the credit report.  I will research and see if I can find the article-it was an informative read.
391711
Go to the credit reporting company that has the disputed item(s).  They will have a link that says something to the effect of "something not right on your report? Click here to find out how to fix it" or dispute credit report here.  They will provide a form that you fill out and send to the reporting agency.  Or you could call the credit reporting agency and dispute it over the phone.  It's faster through the phone.  I am sure they also have an e-mail feature, also.  I know Equifax, Experian and Transunion are the three biggest agencies.
571470
<sigh>\n\nOK, William, I thought you would be a differant form of creditor....but you are at least honest.  Just need some more education.\n\nWinelover, you are obviously a collector, peddeling the same like of BS as all the rest!\n\nLets clear up the lies.  Debts can NOT be reported on your credit report for more then 7 years, beginning on the date of the delinquency.  Please refer to the Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 804.\n\nCreditors can continue to collect on a debt that is older then the statute of limitations.  They just have no legal way of collecting.  Depending on the state, that runs from 4-10 years.  Once that day is passed, they can NOT sue you in court or legally try to collect.  If the debt is real old, you can simply contact the credit bureau and demand that it be removed due to the SOL running out.  It will probably require a letter to the creditor also.  Either way, debts older then 10 years can easily be ignored!\n\nSo when you folks tell people that depts never go away, you are simply uneducated or lying?  Which is it?\n\nThe only time they can continue to come after you is if they have taken you to court, and won a judgement.  \n\nThat said, lets answer your question.  William is correct.  Older debts do not hurt your score as bad as recent debts.  Don't get me wrong...negative reports still hurt!  \n\nIf you have any bills collection interest, pay them first (high interest rates first).  Then just try and work your way through.\n\nBefore you pay, first contact the creditors and try to negotiate a lower balance if possible.  Just explain what happened and they may work with you.  \n\nMost importing...you are trying to cean up your credit report.  It does you absolutely no good to pay these bills if the creditor does not remove any negative information from your report.  And you will find that once they have your money, they will not be very cooperative in helping you.  Once paid, you no longer have any leverage to work with.\n\nGet IN WRITING an agreement that once the bill is paid, they will remove all negative information from your records.\n\nUse the sample letters below to help you.\n\nWhen you negotiate, DO NOT offer to pay anything.  One slick trick collectors are using is to ask for a "good faith" payment.  If you do that, you start the statute of limitations clock, and your debt added several years to it's age.  The way the game is played...you are NOT denying you owe the debt, but you are NOT offering to pay it either, until an agreement is reached.
845879
Seven years, and then you can ask for the credit bureaus to take it off your report.
934701
Try this.\n\nWhen you call these companies, tell them that you want IN WRITING a guarantee that they will raise your credit score and remove bad items from your credit report once the bills are paid.  \n\nAnd that they won't take any money unless these things are accomplished.\n\nYou won't find anyone who will agree to this.  Why?  Because they can't possibly promise such a thing.\n\nThere are only two ways to get a negative item removed from your credit history.\n\n1) The creditor must delete it\n2) The creditor fails to respond to an investigation request from the credit bureau.\n\nNote that payment of a bill does NOT remove the item.  It only changes the status from being late or in collections, to paid.  But it still reflects late payments or collections.  It's still a negative item.\n\nThese "credit repair" companies will TRY to negotiate a payment arrangement that will TRY to remove the negative items.  But there are no guarantees.  \n\nBut it is a guarantee that these companies will demand payment for their services, whether they succeed or not.\n\nBefore you go this route, do your research.  Many of the things that these companies do, you can easily do yourself.  \n\nAlso note that many of these "credit consoler" or "credit repair" companies are a front for companies offering consolidation loans or other such services.  Be aware of what's going on!
422405
I posted the links to several sites with sample letters.  I think those and the other links will help you out a lot.\n\nJust a word of caution.  Before you start doing battle with the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRA's), you must first read and understand the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  It goes into the procedures that you must follow exactly if you want these items removed.  Remember, CRA's do not remove or  change items on your report.  Only the creditor can do that.\n\nSo, your first step is to ask the CRA to "verify" the listing.  The CRA does NOT investigate anything.  They will simply contact the creditor and ask if it's a legitimate debt, and if the information is correct.  If the credit says "yes" (in almost all cases I've messed with), then the report will stay in your records, but will now have a note that it is being disputed.\n\nYou must now send a letter to the creditor demanding that they "VALIDATE" the debt.  Use the sample letter below for that.  Validate means they must supply you with copies of contracts, bills, receipts, or anything that was used to calculate the debt they claim you owe.  If they do not respond back in 30 days, or if they do not remove the listing, they are in violation of the FCRA and you can sue them in court for penalties and damages.  \n\nKeep all letter and record any phone calls you make.  Send letters by certified mail so you have proof you sent them.  DO NOT be afraid to threaten lawsuits if they do not comply.  I've helped several people fix problems, plus cleaned up my open report from a lot of wrong information and ID Theft.  The threat of a lawsuit is the only thing these guys seem to understand.
77144
yes. you need yo contact a credit help agency like crusader or careonecreditcounseling.com they will put you on the right track. items can be removed in as little as 3days but will report in 31days.
1014611
All you need is your reports and an internet connection, sometimes a phone.  \nGet your reports annualcredit report.com\nFind innaccuracies/outdated information\ndispute online\nif your report contains accurate negative information, it can still be removed if it is unverifiable.  if you dispute and the company doesnt respond in the alotted time frame the information must be removed.  \nIts just so easy.  theres lots of information on the net.  Id give you my email to help further but im not sure if we can do that or not ;)
579497
You can use it but the best way to clear up your credit is to obtain your credit reports from the three reporting agencies... Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. It's a pain in the neck and rather time consuming but you actually have to dispute with each company, not just one of them. I personally use form letters. I also pull my credit once a year from each on of the agencies. You'll be amazed what inaccurate information is on your files. I was. By the way, in most states, you're entitled to one free report per year from each agency.\n\nYou can obtain the reports at www.transunion.com, www.equifax.com and www.experian.com. If you want more information on your FICO and what your credit means, go to Fair Isaac's site at www.myfico.com.\n\nGood luck!
869917
There are three main credit reporting agencies - you MUST dispute it with ALL 3!!!!!\n\nTransunion\nEquifax\nExperian\n\nEach has a certain part of the country as their specialty.  If you only clear it with one of them - if you ever moved it would haunt you again.  Most creditors report to all 3.  Now when you clear it with one they are SUPPOSED to contact the other 2.  but, double check.  You are allowed one free credit report every x months (x depends on the state and the credit reporting agency), if you filed a criminal report you get more free credit reports.
370857
Bankruptcies will stay on your credit report for 7 years (Chapter 13) or 10 years (Chapter 7).  There is no way to remove them.\n\nIf you want to do some letter writing and play the "game" read the files below.  They outline the proceedure and laws involved in protesting inaccurate and unfair listing to your credit report.
249314
If they are required to do so per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, then yes.  Otherwise, they may not all remove them at the same time.  It is up to the reporter to authorize removal in most cases.
476362
You can write to all three of the credit report places yourself.  They have to look into all matters that you report.
1058942
To begin with, never NEVER believe a collection agent.  When they tell you they will notify a credit bureau about your payment, there is NO GUARANTEE the will do so. \n\nWhat you need is for the collection agency to send you IN WRITING an agreement that once you have paid your bill, they will remove any negative information from your report.\n\nThe problem is we are now dealing with other countries, and other laws.  I don't have a clue what laws Irland has concerning credit reporting (they may not even have any!), so without any legal backing that letter can be next to worthless.  \n\nSo before you procede, you need to research the credit reporting laws and see what sort of protections you have.   Otherwise, you are working solely on the work of the creditor, which is not a bright idea.
377620
If the negative items are an error dispute them with each credit bureau (and send a seperate dispute letter to the creditor direct).  If it's not an error it will not be removed until 7 years from the last activity date assuming the account is closed or was charged off.  Time will be your friend.  As negative items age they become less important to what makes up your credit score.
817563
Charge offs, paid or unpaid, remain for 7 years from date of last activity.  Credit reporting agencies do not forget to remove them; they purge automatically.  \nPaying a charge off won't remove it, but not paying can cause a judgment to be filed, and that also can remain for 7 years from date filed.\nPaying a large debt may increase your score somewhat, but, also, future creditors look at unpaid charge offs less favourably than paid charge offs.