Protecting your Credit Rating

What to do
when a company tries to collect an unjust debt.

(Dan Hopper and Sherry Cattrell)

The following quotation is from a letter from the Consumer Protection Association. It answers a question that many around the country have been asking:

"Please note, both statute and case law have clearly established that the member cannot be held liable for contract payments or dues payments where the services or products purchased have not, are not, or cannot be delivered by the seller. More simply stated, members cannot be forced to pay for that which they did not receive."

Clearly, if you don't fight back - they win.

If the services you purchased are no longer available or if your contract has been violated, according to the above quote, you should not have to pay and it would be unscrupulous for a company to try to force you to do so. You have a duty to yourself to notify the credit bureaus identified below.

How to order your free credit report online

  • Get one free report per year from each agency by clicking on the following link:

annualcreditreport.com
or
Call 877-322-8228

or Send request to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

  • It’s also free if you’re:

1. Denied credit within the past 60 days
2. Victim of identity theft

You can also write directly to the credit agencies that report your credit rating.

There are three main Credit reporting companies. Most people aren't aware of all of them but different companies and organizations use one or the other of them, so the information on one credit report, is often different from the others. It is important that you contact each one . They like to get as much information as possible so they can be sure you are who you say you are, but not very lengthy. They usually like an information sheet. Here are the addresses:

Equifax

TRW and Experian

Trans Union

Equifax Credit Bureau
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
(800) 685-1111
http://www.equifax.com/online-credit-dispute/

TRW NCAC (Experian)
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX. 75013
(800) 682-7654

TRW (Experian)
P.O. Box 8030
Layton, Utah 84041-8030
(800) 392-1122

For more information, write, or call:
Experian Consumer Education Department
P.O. Box 1239
Allen, TX 75013
(800) 947-7990 Telephone
or
(888 397 3742)
http://www.experian.com/disputes/index.html

The cost varies depending on your circumstances. A credit report may be obtained: At no charge:

  1. whenever your request for credit, insurance, employment or
  2. rental housing is denied based on information received from Experian, if you contact us within 60 days of the denial.

You also may receive a free copy if "adverse action" was taken against you based on information in your credit report (e.g., your interest rate was raised or your credit limit was decreased.).

The name of the credit reporting agency that provided your credit report and how to contact them for a copy will be provided in writing by the company that declined your credit application or took adverse action.

Some states require credit reporting agencies to provide their residents a free report each year even if they are not denied credit. At no charge if you are unemployed and seeking employment, receive public welfare assistance or believe your credit file contains inaccuracies resulting from fraud.

TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
(800) 916-8800
http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/creditDisputes.page

Remember to send copies of any documentation relating to the fraud, unconscionable acts, high pressure sales, etc. or any newspaper clipping or other documents associated with it.

Provide, as a minimum, the following information to prove that you are who you say you are

Name: _____________________
Date of Birth: _____________________
Social Security Number: _____________________
Address: _____________________
Copy of Drivers License: _____________________

As unfair as it is, if they don't have enough evidence or information, they will just throw your letter in the trash. This lets them know that you are serious and prepared to handle the matter.

ALWAYS send the letter via "certified", return receipt mail. It is very convenient. That lets you know that they have received it. They have an obligation not only to consumers but for the well being of the economy. That is why our "credit rights" were established.

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