Here's another one that may be of interest for knowledge sake:

/threadview/1415.html

I may contact Equifax and TransUnion in the near future to re-validate Ray's findings at the time. Let me think about your question and I'll see if I can uncover anything in my notes that might help draw you towards an optimum decision.

Thanks for pointing that out, very informative! Especially this (by Raymond):

"That's why, if you have old account statements or some such thing to present to the bureau with the right information, things become a lot easier. Then they will have little choice but to make the correction or make a serious effort with the creditor to corroborate the info"

This is why I am debating as to the timing I should produce my evidence to the bureau. Here's my thinking:
Scenario 1:
a) Start the dispute, but do not send evidence
b) Bureau calls creditor
c) I am lucky and the creditor gives the same information I have printed out in a statement and a manager's letter. Namely, balance is $0 credit limit is still there.
d) Hence bureau cannot verify this is a 'bad debt'
e) entry has to be removed
Scenario 2:
a) Start the dispute, but do not send evidence
b) Bureau calls creditor
c) Creditor for whatever reason says this is a bad debt.

d) I then produce my evidence where the same creditor basically says this is not bad debt.
e) Now what?
Scenario 3:
a) Start the dispute, produce all my evidence
b) Bureau calls the creditor
c) May be a longer process and a he says/she says game

At this point, based on Raymond explanation of how things work, I am more inclined to just produce everything right away that way they should be forced to act. Is this wise?

Carmine,

Have a look at this thread and see if the Sept 20th, 2008 comments apply in your case.

/threadview/1284.html

Thanks Ottawa Chap!
It was about 7 months late and kept making little payments every now and then and as much as I could afford. The thing is R9 on the credit report says "R9, meaning a bad debt, collection account or unable to locate" neither of which is true nor accurate. The account was paid in full, never went to collection. There is also an additional comment in the entry that says "Additional comments: bad debt". I want to fight the credit agency so that it reflects accurate information which right now it's not.

But back to my question, I want to at least try to dispute it and while I have what I believe is strong documentation, I am wondering if it wise to disclose it immediately with the credit agency, or perhaps if I should wait until they conduct their 'verification' when there could be a chance the bank will tell them it's a 0 balance. I am really not sure what's better...

How many months behind in your payments were you? If it was over 5, then [I believe] the status would change from R5 to R9. If that was how this played out, then that R9 will not be removed as it's an indication of your payment history.

I don't mean to hijack the topic, I hope mkmorris was able to pay off and get the R9 removed. I am trying to remove an R9 from my credit report (the account has been fully paid off and never went to collection even though I was late). The people at the bank (this was a credit card debt) were very rude and refused to update the credit agencies. So I am about to fight with the two agencies and have a question. I have a letter written by a branch manager stating the account has been paid in full and has a 0 balance. I also have a printout from the bank machine stating a $0 balance and the full credit limit available.

My question: should I send all this documents to the credit bureaus in my dispute letter, or should I instead wait until they ask for it. I just want to be prudent and want to play my cards wisely.

Thanks for any siggestions,
Carmine

If you can prove that the item is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, they need to remove the item by law.

Otherwise, you'll have to wait the appropriate amount of time.

The only way you will remove a write off is, if the date of last activity expires.

So if I read this correctly, to remove a write off notice from my bureau, I just need to petition Equifax to remove it? Is there a 'good' way to do this?
What form should the letter take, a polite request or a 'demand' (nicely worded of course)?

Hey monty, i've been pretty good. how are things on your end?

sorry i took so long to reply, i don't come on here that often.