Cleaning up credit report

[lmg]

I'm going throug one of my credit reports now and I noticed that the accounts in my bankruptcy all have something different regarding the debt being discharged

some say - dischraged through bankruptcy, some as debt included in bankrupcy and some say as petitition for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Also, after the note about the bankruptcy all still reference how past due they were. One also say account charged off which I know didn't happen before the bankruptcy.

What should it really say on my credit report? Just wanted to know how far I should go with disputing the comments.

[HHM]

So long as the BK is referenced in some way, that is enough. Although, you probably want the ones that say "petition for chapter 7" to reflect a discharge.

If you were past due on the accounts prior to filing, those entries can reamian for 2 years. But you should dispute it anyway.

The charge off needs to be removed.

[joaquin]

I just saw the same thing on my report. Unfortunetly the only reason that my accounts were passed due was because I had to stop paying them. None of my accounts were late prior to that but I was also very broke.

[PaKettle]

It's a struggle getting them to correct them as they should be corrected.
I recommend doing it online at first and then if they don't cooperate, go with the certified mail technique.

So far I have gotten them to remove the charge-offs on TU and Exp but EQ is dragging its feet.

If it says ChargeOff require them to prove it was charged off before you filed bk. In other words, dispute it on the basis that it was not charged off before the bk and then they have to confirm it was or else they cannot list it as such. As far as I can see, it is a "grey area" as to whether or not it is legal to list a "charge off" after discharge under Ch. 7 bk. I would hold that it is not legal and demand that they remove it and just put "Discharged under Ch. 7 bankruptcy" or the like.

Apparently they can show the lateness on accounts prior to bk, but if you dispute it they may end up falling off. So just dispute if in doubt. And if it comes back "confirmed" then dispute again.

[brown153]

My wife and I were going over our credit reports, and for one of our accounts, it is listed as 'included in bankruptcy' on my Equifax report, and on hers it is listed as '120+ days past due'. Should they not be posted as 'included in bankruptcy'? It is the same account, and I was listed as the primary cardholder.

And as far as the late payments listed on the credit report in the months prior to filing bankruptcy, these are legit as long as they were prior to filing, correct? Is there any harm in sending letters disputing this information, requesting for it to be taken off? Or is that illegal?

[BassBoy]

My wife and I were going over our credit reports, and for one of our accounts, it is listed as 'included in bankruptcy' on my Equifax report, and on hers it is listed as '120+ days past due'. Should they not be posted as 'included in bankruptcy'? It is the same account, and I was listed as the primary cardholder.

And as far as the late payments listed on the credit report in the months prior to filing bankruptcy, these are legit as long as they were prior to filing, correct? Is there any harm in sending letters disputing this information, requesting for it to be taken off? Or is that illegal?

First, it's not illegal to dispute anything on your credit report. If you believe it's an error, then you have every right to dispute. If the information is accurate, the credit bureaus will send you a letter about their findings. Case closed then.

It is correct that any lates prior to your BK are legit and will remain on your credit report.

Back to your first question.......you asked if the debt should not be included. Were these listed on your schedules? Did you both file? If so, then both of your reports should list all debts as Included in Bankruptcy. This can be disputed.

[brown153]

First, it's not illegal to dispute anything on your credit report. If you believe it's an error, then you have every right to dispute. If the information is accurate, the credit bureaus will send you a letter about their findings. Case closed then.

It is correct that any lates prior to your BK are legit and will remain on your credit report.

Back to your first question.......you asked if the debt should not be included. Were these listed on your schedules? Did you both file? If so, then both of your reports should list all debts as Included in Bankruptcy. This can be disputed.

Thanks for the info. Yes, it was included in the schedules, and we both filed. I also notice several accounts that show charge offs in June through August 2007, when we initially filed in April and were discharged in July. Are these disputable as well?

[brown153]

One more question regarding cleaning up credit reports. My wife and I had a Chase credit card that was in my name, and we got an extra card with her name on it.

Looking at our credit reports now, the account is listed on both of our reports, on mine the status is listed as IIB but on her report it is listed as 120+ days late. We will be writing a letter to have hers changed to IIB, but I wonder if we can even claim that it was not her debt and have it removed completely? I didn't think so, but just wondering if anyone has any insight.