My credit score

[Dunit35]

I got a call today from a collection agency or something. I was confused and pissed at the same time. I knew exactly what they were talking about because I tried getting my account switched to my new bank but the company had no clue how to do it. So, eventually I forgot about it and their bank or collection agency called today. The balance was 434 and they told me I could pay it all now or garnish out of my paycheck. They said if it was garnished it would hurt my credit score. So, I got the cash and its getting paid off tomorrow.

I checked my credit score a little bit ago and that $434 was on the report. What's going to happen when it gets paid off? I've got something else on there thats negative and I have no idea what it is.

[DaneMcCloud]

You'll need to contact or write a letter to each of the credit score agencies after you've paid off your outstanding balance and request that they remove it from your record.

Your credit score is very important. Make sure you check your credit regularly and keep it clean.

Best of luck!

[Buck]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You'll need to contact or write a letter to each of the credit score agencies after you've paid off your outstanding balance and request that they remove it from your record.

Your credit score is very important. Make sure you check your credit regularly and keep it clean.

Best of luck!

I've heard that it can hurt you if you check your credit too many times. Where is the best place to check it anyways?

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by MediaCenterJunkie

I've heard that it can hurt you if you check your credit too many times. Where is the best place to check it anyways?

I went to that freecreditreport site and checked it. When should I check it again?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

I went to that freecreditreport site and checked it. When should I check it again?

I've been an Equifax member for years and check it every few months.

Identity theft and fraud is way more prevalent than you'd think.

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've been an Equifax member for years and check it every few months.

Identity theft and fraud is way more prevalent than you'd think.

When that $454 gets paid tomorrow should I call them friday and request that they take it off?

Will it raise my score any?

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've been an Equifax member for years and check it every few months.

Identity theft and fraud is way more prevalent than you'd think.

I am actually speaking this weekend at an Industry Credit group on Fraud...unfortunately I have become more of an expert on Fraud (Business and Credit Card) that I would like to admit to.

You'd be surprised at the typical "fraud artist" these days.....it could be your best friend, your neighbor, or even someone on Chiefs Planet.

mmaddog
*******

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by MediaCenterJunkie

I've heard that it can hurt you if you check your credit too many times. Where is the best place to check it anyways?

No, it can hurt your score if too many creditors check your credit score (applying for credit cards, etc.).

I use Equifax to check my credit. It checks all three agencies and it's good to check it often for fraud.

[Dunit35]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You'll need to contact or write a letter to each of the credit score agencies after you've paid off your outstanding balance and request that they remove it from your record.

Your credit score is very important. Make sure you check your credit regularly and keep it clean.

Best of luck!

I've got student loans on there and two credit cards and one credit card that I paid off a couple years ago.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You'll need to contact or write a letter to each of the credit score agencies after you've paid off your outstanding balance and request that they remove it from your record

Best of luck!

Unfortunately that doesn't guarantee that they will remove it....in order to have it removed it must either be something submitted in error, or the business that placed it will have to request/authorize it to be removed.

mmaddog
*******

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

Unfortunately that doesn't guarantee that they will remove it....in order to have it removed it must either be something submitted in error, or the business that placed it will have to request/authorize it to be removed.

mmaddog
*******

When I was younger, I was able to get a few late payments removed simply by being polite and asking. I told them it was affecting my ability to get a loan and they removed them immediately.

I also disputed the fact that they were late (they missed by like one day). This was before online payments.

So I guess what I'm suggesting is that it doesn't hurt to ask.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

When I was younger, I was able to get a few late payments removed simply by being polite and asking. I told them it was affecting my ability to get a loan and they removed them immediately.

I also disputed the fact that they were late (they missed by like one day). This was before online payments.

So I guess what I'm suggesting is that it doesn't hurt to ask.

You are correct...it never hurts to ask, but nothing is guaranteed.

Part of the ability to get something removed depends on the creditor and their willingness to be flexible.

mmaddog
*******

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

You are correct...it never hurts to ask, but nothing is guaranteed.

Part of the ability to get something removed depends on the creditor and their willingness to be flexible.

mmaddog
*******

Right.

But a lot of times, the agencies will remove something if it's been a reasonable amount of time after it's been paid.

I seriously doubt that if they were to refuse his request, it would stay on his record for 3 years. One year, maybe. Which is why I suggested that he check it often.

Once it's been paid, it's out of the creditor's hands and up to the credit rating agencies.

[DJay23]

Originally Posted by mmaddog

You are correct...it never hurts to ask, but nothing is guaranteed.

Part of the ability to get something removed depends on the creditor and their willingness to be flexible.

mmaddog
*******

That's no joke.

My fiance started getting past due bills from her health insurer. They claimed that she had to pay office visits that were paid by insurance 2, 3, even 4 years in the past. Twenty dollars here, one hundred there, etc. They told her if she didn't comply within "X" number of days, they would put a bad mark against her credit, which scared her. So she paid these things until she used up all of her savings, and then couldn't pay them anymore. She called and asked them stop charging her for things that had been paid and to fix her credit. They said they would look into it and that flat out, they didn't have to make any requests to the credit reporting agencies, even though they said it was probably their error.

Well, this all was happening when we first started dating so when I found out about it, I called them up and bitched them out and we haven't gotten an old bill since. Her credit is in a shambles though. All of her APR's on her credit cards have gone through the roof and she can't even get small personal loans from our hometown credit union she has been a member of since high school (wanted to transfer a balance for her jet ski).

A banker friend of hers is trying to fight it, but so far no luck. Luckily I have nearly perfect credit, so I was able to buy our home on my own. But damn, don't mess around with this stuff. You have to be aggressive and persistent because big companies like insurers and credit card companies:
A) Don't care about you.
B) Have no motivation for helping you out.
C) Don't care about you.

By the way, through a few connections we were able to talk to the vice president of the health insurer about this (in passing as it was). The guy claims that this is absurd that it would go on and that we should see full reimbursement in the near future (I've had a friend of mine in the business tell me it's as simple as messing up a few digits on a claim). This was at least 6 months ago. I'm not holding my breath.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You'll need to contact or write a letter to each of the credit score agencies after you've paid off your outstanding balance and request that they remove it from your record.

Your credit score is very important. Make sure you check your credit regularly and keep it clean.

Best of luck!

Haiving a security clearance, I need to stay on top of my credit score and what's on those reports. I buy the $15.00 for credit monitering and get a credit report any time I want. On most of those sites it allows you to dispute anything pretty easily. Use to be a pain in the butt.