[KevinH]

OK, so approx. 2 years ago I went through somewhat of a financial disgrace... Lost basically everything, why is not important. Throughout this I never declared bankruptcy and continued to do the best I could to pay down various debts. Through chargeoffs, late payments, and having 0 available credit for some time, my credit score slid to the low 500's.

As things levelled off and I got back on my feet, I made a very conscious effort to keep a close eye on my credit, which I ultimately got back to 626- Which is still on the low side, but much better than it had once been.

Meanwhile, a 5-year old debt for the staggering amount of $64.00, has shown up as a "KD" or a chargeoff, one of the worst things you can have, and my score is now 594. I have never ever been contacted about it before (It turns out its an electric bill from when I was in college), and I don't know if I owe it or not, but lets assume I do and am willing to pay. I told the nice lady at this agency I want that KD removed as if it had never been there, and she claims that "Just doesn't happen." From my former experience in the credit industry I know that a.) it can indeed be removed, and b.) upgrading a "KD" to a "KD Paid in full" does very little if anything to help your rating.

I filed a dispute with Experian and it came back as "Verified," the company refuses to fax a bill to me, though they offered to mail it- I will not give my address to the vultures.

The question is, what more can I do? How can Experian "Verify" that I owe something when even I don't know if I do? Is this electric company or the debt collector themselves required to have informed me of this earlier? I have sweated and suffered for a year and a half to get my credit score back among the living, and now this ridiculous $64.00 has put me back to the "High Risk"? Needless to say, whether its mine or not I'm more than happy to pay it if it is removed. I've also been told that if I pay it, it may wind up being reported longer. Is there anything based on this I can do to force them to remove it?

[glmccoy2469]

Experian doesn't verify your debt, it contacts the creditor, or collector who is reporting the debt to "verify" the report, and they are suppsed to respond to Experian accurately.

[KevinH]

Well, I figured it worked something like you described.. I guess what I take umbrage with is the fact that anyone involved could so quickly say "Yes it's most definitely him" without even contacting me. I believe, and could easy be wrong, that this is the bill for the month AFTER I moved out. Nonetheless the money means nothing to me compared to the gravity of what it's done to my credit.

[excon]

Is there anything based on this I can do to force them to remove it?

Hello Kevin:

No, you can't force them. But you can make your payment contingent on their written promise NOT to respond when the credit bureaus attempt to verify the debt. That'll get it removed.

For $64 you don't have a lot of leverage, but if they want ANY of the money, make them promise.

excon

[maebarr]

Since you are not sure if you owe this, you may not be able to provide what you need, and it is this. If you can prove in some way whether it be a utility bill or income taxes or something showing that you did not live at the address where the service was provided,then they have to take it off. Also, when you dispute an item or items on your reports, do it 3 ways about 3 weeks apart. This is what you do, dispute the bill online, wait 3 weeks and dispute it by mail, wait about 2 weeks and dispute it by phone, the reason you wait is chances of getting different people each time is greater. Someone will eventually take it off. Another thing, if you dispute something and the company does not respond within 30 days, it automatically comes off. Hope this helps

[KevinH]

Shouldn't THEY have to prove that it IS mine? Its amazing how streamlined the system is to screw the consumer.

Thanks I'll try that, I already disputed the bill online about 3 weeks ago, so I'll try the phone next then the mail. There's a good chance that it is mine, I just can't believe they would want to sandbag me in that way for such an insignificant amount.

[maebarr]

I wish you luck with your disputes, just have patience, as you know it does take time. I have disputed items on my credit report that were mine and they come off, just don't give up, they will tire before you do, just dispute, dispute, dispute and dispute some more, the same items over and over again. Soon the company's tire of responding to the disputes, and they come off. I would be interested in knowing if this works for you as it has for me. Maybe in between all this disputing you could let me know how it goes. GOOD LUCK