     MV (Mel) | Monday, January 29, 2001 - 07:27 pm 
Anyone else have a problem with Dillard National Bank? They are reporting accurately on my TU report, but on Experian and Equifax they incorrectly reported the charge-off as a later date. It was supposed to fall off my reports this year but they added a couple more years by reporting the wrong date. Also on Equifax it is showing up twice with almost identical info, but on the second entry they added a few numbers to the beginning of the account number and reported an even later date for the charge-off.
I disputed this to the CRA several months ago but it came back verified for BOTH entries.
So, I called Dillard National recently and inquired about the duplicate entries and was informed that when they reorganized their account numbers they started issuing accounts with a longer number. This caused their computer to mistakenly duplicate my account with the newer number, while also keeping the old account and they realize this is an erro. The lady I spoke to told me that all I have to do is dispute the second one to the CRA as a "duplicate." I informed her that Dillard made the mistake, that they were the ones who reported incorrect info and that I should not have to waste another minute trying to correct their mistake.
Also, I offered to settle the account in full ($188) if they would delete the info from the CRA's and they said they don't do that (yeah, right!) So since we all know that a paid charge-off is no better than an un-paid one I guess they'll not be getting any money from me.
Anyway, here's a copy of the letter I'm going to send to Dillard National Bank. Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated!
Dillard National Bank
PO Box 260040
Baton Rouge, LA 70826
Re: Account # 804-XXXXXX
Dear Dillard National Bank:
I recently contacted your office to inquire about an old account. This account is showing on my Equifax credit report with a charge off date of 1/95. This date is inaccurate. According to my records this account was actually charged off in 9/94, with the date of original delinquency occurring several months before.
In addition to the above mentioned error, you have reported this account twice as two separate accounts to Equifax. The account number you have given for the second account is 7575000-804-XXXXXX and you listed a charge off date of 1/96. Since they both are really the same account and your records show two DIFFERENT dates for the charge off, I can only assume that your records are not to be trusted. Therefore you have a responsibility to prove to me and Equifax how you came up with the reported dates.
Several months ago I disputed the second account with Equifax since I have only had one account with Dillard National Bank. You mistakenly verified it as CORRECT and continued to report this second fake account.
As Dillard National Bank is the entity who made the error, Dillard National Bank must correct this mistake and report only the TRUE dates and ACCURATE account information to Equifax.
The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act provides that inaccurate information must be corrected or deleted. Please provide me with proof that I have two accounts with Dillard National Bank, or else remove the incorrect information from my credit report with Equifax. In addition, please provide me with a complete payment history of my account, including proof of the date of the original delinquency which led to the charge off.
Although I’m sure Dillard National Bank is well informed of the laws under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I’ll add a simple reminder that it is a violation to knowingly report false and inaccurate information to a CRA. It is a violation to report incorrect dates in order to prevent having derogatory information drop off a debtor's credit report at the real 7 year mark.
Thank you for your prompt attention in this matter. |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Monday, January 29, 2001 - 08:11 pm
I see these types of "errors" a lot. If your letter doesn't do the trick, remember that you have a LEGAL right to accurate credit reporting.
I would have sued in Small Claims INSTEAD of writing the letter. I would have applied for a Titanium or Plutonium card, and sued for the amount applied for (or Small Claims max) but declined.
Wished I could say that your success depends on the "quality" of the letter, you'd sure be successful.
You could convert your letter to a complaint with the FTC and/or OCC (copy Dillard), and your chances of getting results will be much greater.
Please let us know what you did and the results! |
| MV (Mel) | Monday, January 29, 2001 - 10:14 pm
If I don't get the desired results from this letter, I will definitely file a complaint. I'm first going to try to stay on somewhat *good* terms with them in hopes that I can get them to agree to not verify if I dispute the account after paying the balance. If they don't agree to that then I won't pay and IF they report the correct date of the original delinquency then it will drop off later this year anyway. Oddly, they are reporting the correct date of 9/94 to one CRA, but then the 2 other different dates on Equisux (sorry, couldn't resist), which is 3 different dates. How can they justify that?
Anway, thanks Christine for allowing this forum for me to vent and for all the accurate and good advice you have given out here. I'll keep you posted on what happens. |
| Amy Duncan (Amydd) | Monday, January 29, 2001 - 11:15 pm
Just to let you know that chances are the CRA will not even try to re-verify. I had that happen to me and I tried twice to get Experian to re-verify and they refused. They said it had been verified in 1997 and if I don't agree with it I would have to contact the creditor.
Your in a never ending cycle with each advising you to contact the other for removal. |
| MV (Mel) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 07:28 am
It's so frustrating! If they give me the runaround, I'll just keep calling and asking to speak to their supervisor, then his supervisor, then his supervisor, etc. I'll harrass them daily just like they do to the rest of us.
What's worse is that even if I do end up filing a complaint, the FTC doesn't seem to do much about it from what I've read in previous posts. But I'm not one to let things go so easily, so if I can't get this cleared up I'll complain to the BBB. I've had good results by doing that with a moving company in the past but it wasn't credit related so we'll see! |
| MV (Mel) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 07:31 am
It's so frustrating! If they give me the runaround, I'll just keep calling and asking to speak to their supervisor, then his supervisor, then his supervisor, etc. I'll harrass them daily just like they do to the rest of us.
What's worse is that even if I do end up filing a complaint, the FTC doesn't seem to do much about it from what I've read in previous posts. But I'm not one to let things go so easily, so if I can't get this cleared up I'll complain to the BBB. I've had good results by doing that with a moving company in the past but it wasn't credit related so we'll see! |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 10:35 am
Usually FTC complaints don't result in an immediate investigation. However, the trick is to send a copy of the complaint to Dillard. Also, it looks like the OCC investigates all complaints. |
| MV (Mel) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 11:52 am
True, I guess a copy of the complaint to Dillard may get them to do what they're suppose to. Glad to hear that about the OCC.
If this doesn't get resolved I'm also going to bill them for my time spent fixing their mistakes. |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 01:24 pm
You can bill them all you want, I'd say there's a 99.9% chance they won't pay unless you sue. Most likely, Small Claims will put a ZERO value on your time.
There are some ways around that, you might want to read the BayHouse FAQ.
I got so tired of wasting my time, I'm getting pretty good at filing. Costs me just under $20 in Small Claims, and it's a great wakeup call for the companies who don't immediately attend to my problems.
I sincerely regret having wasted at least 5 hours on Toshiba before I sued them last week. My goal is no more than TWO hours wasted before I sue.
I'll either win or lose, either way I'll save a lot of my time. |
| MV (Mel) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 02:39 pm
Oh, I'm sure I'd never collect a dime from them but it would make me feel better to get my point across and bill them for the heck-of-it. Too bad I can't report THEM to the CRA's if they don't pay the bill I'd send. :-) |
| Christine Baker (Admin) | Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 04:46 pm
There is no CRA to report, but you DID report them here. That's why I often fax/e-mail my postings to the companies I complain about.
Even if the FTC won't investigate immediately, it IS really easy to complain. Just copy your posting in their on-line complaint form. |
