What do I do if there is something on my credit report that is not accurate?

Question

Hi. My wife use to have a credit card with Express (The clothing store). She accidently missed a payment and a fee was accessed. She called them up to say that she would like to pay the balance in full and close the account, and that it would be appreciated if they could remove the fee. They agreed to remove the fee and she paid the balance. What they did not tell her was that they were calling this a settlement!!! This has hurt her credit severely. When she called them to ask to have it fixed, the refused...even when she offered to pay the fee that they took off. How can she get this blemish removed from her credit? How does she fight this? Thank you very much in advance.

Answer 1

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She can get this resolved. Call back the credit card company and ask to speak directly to a supervisor (phone reps do not have much authority over disputes). Explain to the supervisor that your wife was not informed that it was a settlement and you were not advised of the credit bureau impact it would have on your credit. (if it is a settlemnet, they legally have to let you know) and let them know that you would like that removed from her credit.

Sometimes supervisors can get kind of cocky so just have your wife around and ask her to inform them that she wants them to speak to you. Because sometimes they will say you are not legally liable for the debt and refuse to discuss the account unless she authorizes it. I work for a credit card company and we do this all the time for cardmemebers. Good luck!

Answer 2

Contact each of the three Credit Reporting Bureaus:
Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

Answer 3

She doesn't it is accurate unless of course they agree to take it off.

She can dispute it with the bureaus and possibly get it removed but it will only return the next billing cycle.

Answer 4

Don't do anything over the phone. Always do it via a letter, preferably sent certified mail, return receipt requested.