HAR HAR HAR.

I wonder if pending lawsuits are making them reconsider some of their policies... lol.

At any rate... it would be unreasonable for them to verify every piece of information ever placed in their files. There's just too much there for that. However, it is not unreasonable to expect them to verify information once it is disputed. But therein lies the problem.

Equifax actually told me that they do not require any form of paper proof to verify information in their files. All they are required to do in the course of their investigation is to call the collection agency and ask whether the information is correct.

Too bad all their customers aren't all like Tankboot2 (Duane Davis). The Vikings might consider another line of business.

Ray

I am just updating as I said I would.

Today I received a new report from Equifax and the questioned item is gone! It took less than the 15 business days that they said it would take...

I am happy to report that I have clean reports... I guess being persistent and knowing the facts really paid off.

Thanks again Ray - your help is so appreciated!

Jenn

If you think that was bad, try calling TransUnion and you'll get India half the time.

The president of Equifax in Canada used to be the head of iQor, Inc formerly CBCL - Canadian Bonded Credit Limited - Now Iqor Collection Agency , so that'll tell you where their priorities lie.

Member creditors punch in data on consumers thousands of times each month. Equifax has no way of knowing which entries are correct. Since the system is subject to both error and deliberate abuse by their creditor members, the consumer reporting acts mandate that a debtor can dispute incorrect data on their file by objecting to erroneous entries.They give the reporting creditor 30 days to challenge the consumer's assertion. If not corroborated, then the item must be deleted,

In this case, it might have been quicker to contact the Vikings' ombudsman, Lorie Roberts first and see where that went.

Now if only someone could help Pastor Josh.

Ray

that's the thing. All people that are victims of this should send complaints to your local MPs. We live in a democratic country and more voice we have, the sooner they will do something about it. Imagine everyday there is thousands of ppl complaining regarding this matter? Even more you can also send your stories to the news media. I highly doubt they would just sit there doing nothing if that's the case.

"What really concerns me is how easy it is for a collection agency to report false, inaccurate information without any batting an eye - then when the consumer calls to dispute, the onus is put back on the consumer to correct it. I think that is complete BS. I think that collection agencies should have to PROVE the information prior to it being posted on a credit report rather than just being allowed to say whatever they want... I think if they had to provide the actual documentation to the bureaus, there would be alot more fairness in credit reporting."

In addition to the C/A’s simply being able to place whatever type of update they feel is justified on one’s Bureau, I feel that they should be liable for any false and derogatory reporting/comments. I’m sure others agree, too; but until people step up and take action they’ll keep getting away with this behavior.

O.C.

Update!

So, I followed Ray's advice - I called Equifax (yes, it took about 10 times to get through) - the first person I spoke to completely brushed me off and told me that there was absolutely nothing they could do about it... If I had a problem, I needed to take it up with Activ and then hung up on me. The lady didn't even give me a chance to explain a single thing about the entry.

I was pretty sure that this was not the real case so I went and checked the Equifax website and lo and behold it stated that THEY will investigate the dispute. So I called back and got a MUCH smarter person - she immediately checked the report and said that there was NO WAY that the information that Activ was reporting on my "Public Record Section" could be accurate as the item did not appear anywhere in my credit report - if it was accurate, she said that it would appear elsewhere as well as an R9.

She put the item into investigation and told me that I should have a response in 15-20 business days.

She was most helpful - I am glad I was persistent.

Now I will wait my three to four weeks and see if it actually happens.

Thank you so much Ray for your advice - you cannot imagine the stress it has saved me.

What really concerns me is how easy it is for a collection agency to report false, inaccurate information without any batting an eye - then when the consumer calls to dispute, the onus is put back on the consumer to correct it. I think that is complete BS. I think that collection agencies should have to PROVE the information prior to it being posted on a credit report rather than just being allowed to say whatever they want... I think if they had to provide the actual documentation to the bureaus, there would be alot more fairness in credit reporting.

Thanks again Ray... I will post in a month when I have some sort of resolve.

Jenn

I was wondering who governs the credit reporting agencies? With the sensitive nature of what info they have you would think they should be a lot better run and have better trained employees to stop garbage like moving dates around. Its sounds like the reporting agencies have the monkeys running the zoo.

Thank you so much for your information - and taking the time to clarify this for me...

Jenn

Call Equifax at the number and extension I listed. You may have to try 2 or 3 times to get through. They also have a dispute form you can download, fill out and mail in containing the details of the dispute. The creditor has 30 days to respond with proof or the credit bureau must remove the offending entry. But as I said, it's a lot easier if you still have some old account statements in your possession that you can fax in right away as proof. But, unsurprisingly, one credit bureau will not accept as proof info that's contanined on your file by another credit bureau.

I suppose it's also worth calling Lorie Roberts, AktivKapital's ombusdman in London, Ont. at 1-866 764-7688 Ext. 2536 and seeing if she's willing to get a correction submitted to Equifax.

Debt buyers like to blackmail (leverage) people by moving up "dates of last payment" on the "Public Record" sections of credit bureau files to keep delinquency reports alive longer and thereby coerce people to make payments on stats barred debts; otherwise, they have few other recourses. Nonetheless, they are still responsible for submitting correct data to the bureaus and so Roberts may be willing to help you. It's worth trying at least before contacting Equifax yourself.

Ray