Re: Duplicate trades reported

Posted by Linda on January 20, 2002 at 11:12:11:

In Reply to: Duplicate trades reported posted by Linda H on January 20, 2002 at 00:45:47:

There is no definitive answer, specifically stated, in the FCRA. However, most people dispute duplicate tradelines as Inaccurate reporting. Standard procedure is to send a validation letter to the collection agency, forcing them to go back to the original records, getting the original account number, etc., and then, once you can prove that it is the same account, disputing both tradelines, supposedly forcing the original creditor to change their information on your report so that it has the words "sold/transferred".

It usually doesn't work. In most cases, the credit bureau will state that they can report both, even though they are the same account. They will stonewall you by responding with statements that do not really apply to your situation, such as "these companies routinely open two accounts", or some other such nonsense.

Filing complaints with the FTC and BBB does not accomplish anything except to create a bad track record for those companies you complain about. The bad news is, they already have bad track records, and they don't care.

Lawsuits do tend to communicate your dissatisfaction clearly enough to make them listen. Here I go with the suit-happy stuff again ;) They simply don't pay attention to anything else. Collect your proof, lay the papaer trail, submit your demands, then sue. THEN they will delete them.

They figure most people are afraid of court, don't have time or money, etc etc, and since no one else enforces the law, they ignore it, and truck on. It's time for consumers to get familiar with the courts system, and use it to enforce the laws supposedly guaranteeing them their rights.

Linda

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