How do you challenge a negative item on your credit report?
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at
10:36 am
joeinchino2000 asked:
I had an apt complex in California put a negative item on my credit report. The charges they list are invalid (they made up charges over 30 days after we moved out) but they hired a collection agency and I now have this thing on my credit report. How do I challenge it to get it off?
I had an apt complex in California put a negative item on my credit report. The charges they list are invalid (they made up charges over 30 days after we moved out) but they hired a collection agency and I now have this thing on my credit report. How do I challenge it to get it off?
Filed under: Credit
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Most credit reports include a section on how to challenge inaccurate items. Just write them a letter and explain what you are challenging and why.
Write a letter to each of the 3 credit reporting agencies. They will put it in the file. Call the better business bureau and try to resolve the issue. If the complex is erronious in their reporting, they will also have to write a letter to the credit reporting agencies.
Two options, first you can do this online at the credit bureaus websites and second you can write them a certified letter return receipt requested they will then have 30-days to get in touch with the collection company and respond back to you.
Personally I would do both
Good luck.
You’re going to have to tackle this from both sides. File a complaint with each one of the credit bureaus, but also contact the apartment management and work a deal out with them. The complaint only works if the items are false…you have to prove they are false. The apartment complex can prove that you lived there and that there are charges that they attributed to you during your tenure. You are going to have to work with them to get the collection agency to remove the negative report.