Free Credit Reports, Free Credit Scores, New FTC law

Everyone in the USA is entitled to one free credit report per year from all the consumer reporting agencies. If I desire more or want it fast I can get a report in a bunch of ways.
1 I can mail this letter to the bureaus and get one by mail in about 14 - 30 days. The FTC advocates mail as mail is more secure.
2 Free credit report usually means I buy a credit moitoring service for about 80.00 dollars and get a free report and some live help to questions. If I cancel this service before 30 days I get to keep the report free. So buy monitoring and get a 1 bureau report free.
3 Buy a one bureau report straight out for about 9.50 and add another 5 to upgrade and get a score.
4 Free credit score when I buy the comprehensive 3 bureau report I get a free credit score to go with it. About 35.00

So I can snail mail once per year for Free. 14 - 30 DAYS
I can buy monitoring cancel within 30 days and keep a free credit report. NOW
I can buy one report and upgrade to a score for about 15.00 NOW
I can buy a comprehensive 3 bureau report and get a free credit score. NOW

Deletion letter, pay bills, collections, Pay it now help my score?

Hi Bo,
Thanks for the information on your great site. I was wondering if you get a chance to give me your opinion about this problem. I have 2 co. listed on my credit report under collections for the same bill which I am disputing with the original vendor. Both co no longer are contracted by the vendor to try and collect the bill. What is the best way to get them off of my credit report asap? Should I contact the collection agency myself and ask for a letter or should I just go through the 30 day
dispute process or both? Also, I purchased 1 report directly from Equifax, will a dispute online work ro do I need to send them a letter?
Thanks so much for any help and ideas you can provide. Feel free to post it.
Sincerely
REAL PERSON

Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:09 PM
Subject: Re: Quick question
I'd dispute them first and list the non contractor for original bill as reason for removal. It's like they are ot of business. They should not be allowed to keep your records if not under contract. Which would mean the account should be removed. At the very least they ae duplicates and one should go. I advocate mail as piece of mind mean more to me than getting a piece of them.
Just mail sit back and don;t get frustrated or waste time

Thanks Bob for the personal reply and taking the time to share your wealth. Not sure what this means "I advocate mail as piece of mind mean more to me than getting a piece of them." Also does disputing online not work as well as hard copy mail? Since I am in a hurry to boost my score I thought it might work best. Which is also why I was going to contact the contractor to optain a deletion letter.
Thanks

Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: Quick question
A deletion letter is perfect. yes The hassle of on the web i have found is not worth the time unless of course your "very good". Piece of mind means i just "set it and forget it". Gather my belongings, sign them, make copies, and mail them.
Thats settting it then forgetting it.
Hurry? You can do it I'm sure.
If you find it an easy fast in a hurry task please post how you did it like i have.


Quoting REAL PERSON
Thanks again Bob for your help. One last question is about a small collection thats on my account for $286.00 from 6 years ago. If I pay this off will it help or hurt my credit score?
Take Care

Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:57:03 -0700
From: Bobo Majors
To: REAL PERSON
Subject: Re: Quick question
I belive a person should pay all they're bills period.
Will it help?
Probably not much if it is more than 2 years old already.
But it sure does look and feel good.

Redate, Fair credit reporting, collections, seven years limit

Quoting REAL PERSON>:

Hello Bo,
My name is REAL PERSON, I am 26 years old and I need some help. I have heard so many different things out there that conflict and I am hoping you can help shed some light on them for me. First, I have two items on my credit that I never paid back when I was 18 years old. I was having some trouble then and I didn't ever pay them. I was told at the time it would take 7 years for those items to come off my record. It has been longer than that and the items continue to be redated and updated by the creditors. OR they are sold to another one and the date moves up again. My question is in regards to the 7 year rule. Is the seven year rule in reference to when the account was first reported as being negative? is it when its sold and re-established by another company? or does it start from the date that you pay it? I would like more information, like a reference site, or somewhere where I can find the actual letter of the law.
If you can help I would appreciate it!!!

Warmest Regards,
REAL PERSON

Real Person:
This is the most dangerous game played by creditors along with bureaus who alow this practice. Selling the debt to another company is the most common form of redating I know. 7 Years start from the date of last activity on each account. So the first account should come off for sure. The letter of the law is found here and the letter favors #1 creditors, #2 bureaus, #3 smart people who have been defrauded and the like, and #4 people who don't pay there bills on time occaisionally, or had an illness or problem with a job and probably don't have a computer to see the law. The last (#4) being an oxymoron. These people need help. Almost all people have no idea what to do about bad credit and how the process works. A person disputes a credit entry to the bureaus and they in turn contact the creditors to verify the good or bad credit. The creditor then must respond within the 30 days of the BUREAUS request not yours either verifying or denying the credit entry. If they do not respong within 30 days the item should be removed.

Now if you read that ftc thing, you will notice nothing about collection redating. And you will not unless the ACLU or an enormous number of consumers get togther to make a change.

What is happeing to you is wrong and should be outlawed. But I don't think there is a letter of the law you can stand on.

Disputes Dispute, Duplicate, Merged, Inaccuarates

Qoting REAL PERSON>:

I've pulled copies of all 3 credit reports,on your form I printed off were it says company name, do I put the creditor, or the the original creditor on the dispute form. The items that I have that are duplicate should I put them all on one form the balances are each a couple of dollars different with different account numbers.
Does it matter how many items I dispute at one time. Are there any laws or rules I should cite on the forms, that may be helpful or just dispute?
Thanks for your help

Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 21:39:39 -0700
From: Bobo@oskie.com
To: REAL PERSON
Subject: RE: credit repair
just dispute
dispute the old entires first as duplicates. The original creditor.
No rules
I would dispute in waves and dispte diffeent items each time
good luck

-----Original Message-----
From: Bobo@oskie.com [mailto:Bobo@oskie.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 1:22 PM
To: REAL PERSON
Subject: Re: credit repair

the car is a done deal
the other should be able to be disputed as duplicate accounts you might
need some paper work to prove though as creditors routinely use
preditory practices to extact as muc money and pain from you as possible


Quoting REAL PERSON

I just turned 26 and my credit is a mess, your website is helpful on things I did not know but I really still need some help here. I have not yet sent off for a copy of my credit reports (I will today) I know I have one creditor on my report for a very small amount who ran the same think through several times for different amounts how can I get all those removed. Can I get inquires removed myself? The big one I was wondering about is my car I am still paying on my car and it shows I went 60days past due can I get that off my report? It brought my score down quite a bit. Sorry for just throwing all the questions at you but I am finally serious about getting my credit repaired and I see its going to be a process and I just need a little help, any info you can help with will be appreciated.
> >
Thanks REAL PERSON

Equifax Phone Number and credit help

Quoting REAL PERSON

Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I have my credit report and because I did not order it from Equifax, the number on the bottom is invalid. All I need is two addresses of accounts on my report, and they won't help me! You're right, it's a nightmare! They won't give me the correct number to call unless I order a report. I try to order it, but then they start talking about a membership, and Im afraid my credit card will keep being charged.
Can you help me?
I appreciate your help! Its an emergency
Thank you,
REAL PERSON

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-997-2493


Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:37:54 -0700
From: Bobo@oskie.com
To: REAL PERSON
Subject: Re: Help-A question about my credit
If you want an address just use my dispute form.
http://www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm
Dispute it formally
and presto
you either get the info
or the item is removed
takes about 14-30 days for a response.
yes I know Im Right
I have done it.

Credit Help

Collection, redating, paid in full, increase score

Really the best way to get paid as agreed and in full is by negotiating with the original creditor in the first place. Once you dispute then everything becomes sort of final. Will it help your score? Probably not very much. It still shows as a collection, but you did get the money out of the past due column. Another note that might hurt is the item might have been redated and now your seven years to fall off starts now, and the 2 years till diminished negative or positive effect to your score.
The name stuff I would dispute again and possibly place a fraud alert on my file. Your name could have been misspelled by accident or someone may have been trying to open credit with your name and misspelled it. Credit reports have become one of the most important part of a persons life and should be guarded like a child.

Quoting REAL PERSON :
Hey Bobo, thanks your help earlier. Now I sent off my letters and Trans Union surprisingly responded already. They sent me an updated copy of my credit report. 1st, my name is wrong, damn idiots. 2nd, the status on the item was changed to PAYMENT AFTER CHARGE OFF/COLLECTION. Does that improve my credit rating at all? Should I try again to have them change the status to PAID IN FULL OR AGREED? How many times should I keep trying?

Bobo@oskie.com wrote:looks great to me
maybe too much
but what the heck

Quoting REAL PERSON :
Thanks Bobo. Just a few more, sorry for all the questions. I check my credit report, actually all 3, and there are are not public record of legal items. Should I only send a copy of the the Paid In Full letter? Or should I also include a copy of the certified check, as the amount that was paid is less than the amount of the actual debt, will that matter? Or is that not enough evidence for the bureau to make any changes? Below is the letter I have constructed using various sources. Do you think I need to make any adjustments to it? Thanks for all your help.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
June 10, 2005
Attention: Credit Disputes Department
Dear Equifax:
Enclosed please find a letter from Pressler and Pressler representative of New Century Financial that states Chase MasterCard account:
******************* has been PAID IN FULL.
In addition, I have enclosed a copy of the certified check in which was paid to Pressler and Pressler representative of New Century Financial.

Please amend and delete this item from my credit report to reflect this account is in good standing. Please make this correction within the required time frame, 30 days, of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and supply me with an updated copy of my credit report.

Thank you for prompt attention and timely cooperation on this matter.
Sincerely,
Enclosures: Paid In Full Letter, Copy of Certified Check

Bobo@oskie.com wrote:
if you know its only on one bureau then deal with them only
it probably shows settlment
i cant see you report so all i know is very little about your report
if it only shows a settlment 7 years if it shows up in the legal section its 10 years you can dispute ANYTHING and yes. Bad credit sucks.

Quoting REAL PERSON :
Can I dispute the item even though I paid it off? So it is still a legal item despite being settled out of court? This sux. Will all three credit agencies have this or should I just deal with the one that the collection agency reported to? Thanks again for your help.

Sincerely,
John
Bobo@oskie.com wrote:

----- Forwarded message from Bobo@oskie.com -----
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 05:15:08 -0700
Subject: Re: Bo - Need some advice on "Paid In Full" letter

My first thought is you have a legal item on your credit report which means 10 years. Do you have your report. If not get one NOW! I would dispute the item and marked paid in full after i tried to dispute it as not mine. Should take about 14 - 30 days for response.
Might hire lex law
Quoting Bobo@oskie.com:
Quoting John Lewis :
Hi Bo,
I was reading your site and found that you were very informative and helpful in a "real person" manner. I was hoping you could answer my questions or lead in the right direction. I recently settled with a collection agency for an account that was probably charged off, been about 2 years to the date of my last payment. The agency had retained a law firm (or the agency was a law firm and I was issued a summons. Not wanting to go to court, I settled with them for an amount and have received a "Paid In Full" letter, as well a "Stipulation of Settlement" that was filed with the court (I am assuming with that being filed with the court, I do not have to appear). Now I would like to update and improve my credit score but I am not sure how to approach the credit bureaus. I am not sure what to include in my letter, the type of response, and response time I should be expecting. Also, the "Paid In Full"
letter is pretty generic although it has a legal header there is no signature, is that OK? Do I need to include the "Stipulation of Settlement" or just the "Paid In Full"? Can I request that that item now be deleted since it is completely paid? I am so lost. Sorry for the long email. Your help is truly appreciated.

Sincerely,
REAL PERSON

Experian Phone Number

Thanks so much for posting your experience on the Web. I've only spent a half hour trying to get in touch with Experian and I'm ready to cry or strangle someone but I can't find a body with a neck attached. I will follow your lead.
Real Person

Experian Website here
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
1-888-397-3742

Get a report here

Employers, Addreses, Dates and scores

----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 12:19 PM
Subject: Credit Repair Question (Old Info Removal) Thanks.

Hello,
Recently viewed your credit repair website, great job! Thanks!
I have a question I would like to ask.
I have mailed all of my credit dispute forms in and I'm waiting for
responses.
My question is, I would like to remove old information such as employer info, old addresses, aka's etc. I understand that this info can cost you points on your score, how can I remove this info?
Thank-you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
REAL PERSON

Paid Charge offs or bills

----- Original Message -----
From: REAL PERSON
To: majors@oskie.com
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 9:41 AM
Subject: I paid everything off


Now what can I do to have the negative items removed from my credit report. Should I send proof to the bureaus that this information has been paid off. Or should I ask the creditors to do it.

paid
and
"paid as agreed and on time"
are 2 different matters totally
The former will get a marked as paid but still the lates will show up.
paid as agreed and on time will remove the negatives and increase your score.
i would suggest marking them
NOT MY ACCOUNT and hope for the best
at the very least you will acomplish what you wish in that upon contacting the creditor your account will be updated as you wish. PAID.
At the most you might see it fall off completely.
Bobo Majors

Unauthorized credit report inquiries

Someone has been accessing my credit report on line and viewing it without my consent. A family member--told me outright! My question: does Equifax, Experian and Trans Union keep track of how many times it sends out an individuals report and to whos mailbox it it received in? Other than my bank mortgage person who pulled my report recently which I gave verbal permission too---this invasion of privacy, if in fact this family member did pull my report, has got to stop. Help--thanks REAL PERSON


These should show up as inquiries unless they are doing it online which is unlikely in that online report require a matching credit card to go with the social and personal info.
Bobo Majors
931-455-6066 Work Russell Barnett KIA

Unauthorized Credit Card use and collection redating

Sounds to me like one big mess that you decided to take credit for when you should not have. Credit cards are supposed to be signed on the back and verified buy merchandisers. But as we all well know we can go to the gas station or even Wal-Mart and just SWIPE that card and off we go. the credit card issuer is not at fault and done all they can considering you will not file on this man.
If it has been a long time since DATE OF LAST ACTIVITY i.e. payments made by you. Then the item should fall off in 7 years. If the collection agency is re dating the file, you might go to the BBB and file on them to stop the harassments.
Bobo Majors
931-455-6066 Work Russell Barnett KIA

From: REAL PERSON
To: majors@oskie.com
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 10:19 PM
Subject: please help


I have read your info with enthusiasm and thank you for being kind enough to do this. Wanted you to know this right away. I do have a problem that I need some coaching on. Firstly, sir, I am not a deadbeat. I take my responsibilities very seriously and honor them. My credit report reflects that I paid off debts of over $2,000.00 and over $3,000.00 in one fell swoop and in full. They were my sebts and I wanted them gone. In late 1998 or early 1999 (I can no longer recall), a farmhand working for me, used my card (I always stupidly left it lying on my kitchen counter so it was handy when supplies came) used it without my permission. He was not an authorized user on the card and I can't believe that VISA allowed him to make purchases with my card without verifying same, but they did. The stores he ordered from allowed him to do this also. When I contacted VISA to work this out: offering to return the merchandise and asking what proof they needed of return and taking them to task for allowing this, they refused to help me stating that if I would not pursue fraud charges against the man they were not interested in helping me. I would not do that as the man had a family, he did a stupid thing and I believe that human beings deserve 2nd chances. The man offered to pay Visa if they would give him the credit for doing so. They refused. I refused to pay them for something I did not do. The companies were willing to take back the merchandise but as Visa would not credit my account, this would do me no good. I was in a hole. I still have the merchandise, never used in the original cartons. I tried to sell it to make the money to pay them and was never successful. Then the company went out of business. To finally shorten this letter, my question is this, bad debts come off in 7 years from date of last activity. What does that mean exactly? I am waiting for this to come off my record. I have disputed it 'til I'm blue in the face to no avail. Of course it went to collection a long long time ago and I have handled their insults and harassment for all these years. I have offered them the merchandise. I am now just waiting them out. But last activity bothers me since when I read the credit report they are always showing some activity on the account that is recently dated. Does this ever stop. Way back when this 1st happened I put a dispute form into my file with all the letters and documentation between me and Visa and I update the dispute frequently. Is this ever ever ever going to be off my record? I don't want to burden you, sir, but I am ill with cancer and in a fight for my life right now. I just can't keep fighting and I do not want this mark on my record. I use credit very sparingly and respectfully and this really bothers me. Can you please advise? I will be very grateful. Respectfully, Peggy Ann Lewis

Lex Law and credit repair

INBOX
Empty Trash
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 05:06:56 -0700
From: Bobo@oskie.com
To: REAL PERSON
Subject: Re: about bad credit
Quoting REAL PERSON

Dear Bo,
I have hired someone to do the bull crap for me. Lexington Law. Much easier than me doing it myself. But i wanted to let you know that you are right.
I tried it the other way. Took to long. Had a BK back in 98'. And well to make a long story short, everything was showing up on my credit under the BK as open and still oweing. Since I have hired this company. 1/2 of the crap under the Bk have been totally illimated. I went from a 425 beacon score 4 months ago, to a 650 beacon score now.
The best thing is that when I go to buy a car now. I get told look at anything you want "No problem" Instead of the "you can look , but not drive" And the "Gee i will be right back" And never see the guy again. Anyway nice to see someone out there helping people to get their life together. Have a nice night.

God Bless
REAL PERSON

They do know the ins and outs.
Some things they can help with that real people can't even thing of.
If you figure in your time and anguish, Hey Lex Law

Paid in full on a legal item

Quoting REAL PERSON
Hi Bo, I was reading your site and found that you were very informative and helpful in a "real person" manner. I was hoping you could answer my questions or lead in the right direction. I recently settled with a collection agency for an account that was probably charged off, been about 2 years to the date of my last payment. The agency had retained a law firm (or the agency was a
law firm) and I was issued a summons. Not wanting to go to court, I settled with them for an amount and have received a "Paid In Full" letter, as well a "Stipulation of Settlement" that was filed with the court (I am assuming with that being filed with the court, I do not have to appear). Now I would like to update and improve my credit score but I am not sure how to approach the credit bureaus. I am not sure what to include in my letter, the type of response, and response time I should be expecting. Also, the "Paid In
Full" letter is pretty generic although it has a legal header there is no signature, is that OK? Do I need to include the "Stipulation of Settlement" or just the "Paid In Full"? Can I request that that item now be deleted since it is completely paid? I am so lost. Sorry for the long email. Your help is truly appreciated.
Sincerely,
REAL PERSON

Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2005 05:17:06 -0700
From: Bobo@oskie.com
To: Real Person
Subject: Fwd: Re: Bo - Need some advice on "Paid In Full" letter

My first thought is you have a legal item on your credit report which means 10 years.
Do you have your report. If not get one NOW!
I would dispute the item and marked paid in full after i tried to dispute it as not mine.
Should take about 14 - 30 days for response.
Might hire Lexington Law Firm

Can't find a Creditor that show late on my report.

Quoting REAL PERSON
Hello, My Name Is Chantel Godin, I was wondering if I can get some help from you, I went and got a credit report done in April 2005 and on it shoed I am owing someone 1200 dollars from June of 2000 and I have called credit personals banks anything to see what it's from and I'm not getting anywhere.
I'm not sure if you can do anything for me but if you can it would make my day
Thanks

Make your own day by disputing the item with my Credit Dispute Form
http://www.oskie.com/credit-dispute.htm

Debt Management and Credit Scores

Quoting REAL PERSON
Hi Bo,
For the past 4 years, I have been enrolled in a debt management program. I have been very successful in paying off most of my creditors. Actually, I started out w/ 7 creditors and I am not down to 2 that still have balances. Do I need to do anything (such as fill out a dispute form or contact the creditors directly) so that most of the creditors can take off the bad credit from my credit score? I am in desperate need of improving my score. Any advice that you can offer will be great.
Thanks. Real Person

Bobo@oskie.com wrote:

Debt Management helps you with debt not scores.
Many times a debt will show settled, or in debt management and will still show the lates.

My best advice would be to
1 open up some new reportable accounts and pay well
for 2 years.
2 dispute all the bad debt and hope for the best
3 if they do not come off, add a comment to each with a letter
4 hire lex law and see if they can help

7 Years from date of last activity bad credit falls off. Matters of law 10

----- Original Message -----
From: Real PERSON
To: majors@oskie.com
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 11:36 AM
Subject: Question
Saw your web page. Cant get anyone at Experion, maybe you can shed light on one or two questions for me.
a) i'm showing one or two 30 and 60 day late payments from 1995 and/or 1996 ...I thought these were supposed to "fall off" after 7 years?
b) how come when you order a credit/fico report from Experion it says one thing, 687 for example, but when my bank gets a compiled report which includes an Experion score generated the very same day, it says 625 for example!
I can't find any way to contact Experion to ask them these general questions!

Thx in advance!
REAL PERSON

a The lates should come off if the date of last activity shows 95 / 96. Start dates are in different columns than last activity date.
b Experian Trans Union Equifax all have different data. My company subscribes to Equifax only. If you have multiple credit streams there will be a different score since they all use one of the 3 but rarely all. The scores measure in simliar ways but are all branded. Just like Chevy Dodge Ford trucks all call they're 4 door trucks a different name even though they do the same thing.
Read These Pages The 3 Main bureaus for phone numbers and the like.

Bobo Majors
931-455-6066