Need advice about credit report dispute

[mgmadara]

My chapter 7 was discharged in February of 2006 and I am finally getting around to fixing my credit reports. My TransUnion report had 1 error. My student loan was listed in the adverse accounts section and under the remark section it stated "Chapter 7 Bankruptcy" The pay status said "paid or paying as agreed" which is correct and the correct balance was listed. There was also a current payment history for the last 41 months showing no lates which was also correct. So, I disputed the remark of "Chapter 7 bankruptcy" and asked them to move it to the satisfactory accounts section.

This is how TransUnion "fixed" my report. They left the bankruptcy remark, changed my payment status to unrated from paying as agreed, removed my 41 month payment history, and changed the balance from the correct amount to $0. They changed all the correct, positive information and left the incorrect, negative information there. I can only imagine that my credit score took a little hit because of this.

What should I do next? Should I request a description of how the investigation was conducted? Should I dispute it again? Or should I go directly to Sallie Mae? I'm already frustrated and this is the first report that I got back. Thanks for any help you can offer.

[HeatherB]

Hmmm. Not really sure, but here's what I think.

Let me get this straight.... it was NOT included in your chapter 7?? Do you pay it personally or does your trustee?? I'm just a little confused.

If it isn't in your bankruptcy, I would definitely dispute it again. How did you initially dispute it? Online, mail, phone? The online option is nice and easy but has limited "dispute options" if you tried it online and got this result, I would definitely do it through mail the next time.

I disputed online and got decent results. Then I realized that I forgot something and called about it.
I actually received good results from a dispute over the phone (for a minor incorrect thing). Basically I called the number they provided on my report. I talked to someone and explained my situation - which was that a few of the collection agencies were supposed to be included in my bankruptcy - and the results came back and they deleted them.

What I would do if I were you is to dispute again. Make sure that you don't use the same wording, though. It may come back as being frivolous.

[mgmadara]

It is a student loan that was not included in our chapter 7 bankruptcy and I have been paying every month, on time for almost 10 years. The balance was correct, it was marked as paying as agreed and the 41 month payment history was there. The only thing I wanted removed was the remark that stated, "chapter 7 bankruptcy" because that remark was causing it to be in the adverse accounts section. They left the remark there, changed the balance to 0.0 and changed it to unrated instead of paying as agreed. Now it looks exactly like all the other accounts that were included in the bankruptcy.

I disputed by certified mail. What will happen if they think I am being frivolous?

[HeatherB]

I'm not exactly sure. But if I remember what someone before said correctly, the CRA said they wouldn't investigate that particular tradeline again.

[CindyLou]

In this case you need to call your student loan lender directly. Sallie Mae corrected mine with no problem once I faxed my discharge papers.