Credit report problem

[Paul B.]

I first checked my credit report in May of last year and saw that I had a collection account, a $130 hospital bill that I realized my health insurance never paid off. I immediately called my health insurance company and they said they would re-bill it.

It took a while but they eventually paid off the balance. I have the copy of the invoice which states that they did. It's dated 1/9/2006.

But today I checked my credit report again but the collection status still shows up as "Unpaid."

Screenshot from the report when I first checked it
Screenshot from today's credit report

I wanna call the collection agency and tell them to report that the collection's been paid, but there are no specific numbers listed. What's my line here, OOT?

P.S. my credit score is 673 [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[ElliotR]

Your line is to dispute it with the credit agencies. Take a minimalist approach and just say that it is inaccurate as the debt was paid in full (i.e., do NOT say you paid it after it was in collections). With luck, since you've paid the collection agency won't respond to the agencies' inquiries and the whole thing will disappear from your reports.

[Paul B.]

[ QUOTE ]
Your line is to dispute it with the credit agencies.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean Equifax? Apparently they're only open M-F. So rigged.

[BUD]

There should be local credit agency where the hospital is located and or contact the hospital and ask them who they use for collections. Contact them and explain your insurance companies mistake and fax over your proof that it has been paid. Ask them for a fax saying your credit report will be fixed.
bud

[ElliotR]

Yah Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.

[BWebb]

If it just got paid on 1/9 it probably hasn't hit your report yet. Give it time, it will come off.

[ElaineMonster]

On the website you used to check the reports, there should be a "dispute report" option. Use it.

Also, follow up with a written letter sent certified mail. Write as much or as little info as you wish but use magic words like "I dispute the following inaccurate information ___" "Verify or remove ___"

Google "dispute credit report" for more info. It's a lengthy process and the reporting agencies are not exactly the most cooperative. But if you work hard to correct the misinformation, you can seriously improve your credit score. Just don't try the easy way out - you can't trust anyone but yourself to do it right.

I had to make many corrections to my reports because they kept doing stupid stuff like list my sister as my spouse! (We applied for loans together to buy a house so they assumed we were incestuous lesbians!?)

[RR]

a good website for info about this stuff is www.artofcredit.com