I was in the same boat as many of you. Account from NCS appeared on my credit report in February 2009 listing a date of December 2008. My Experian credit score went into the tank when this happened.
Here's what I did:
1) Disputed the tradeline with Experian;
2) Sent a
debt validation letter to NCS, certified mail, return receipt requested - there are many good templates for debt validation letters out there on the internet...shop around;
3) Sent the same letter to NCS via email;
4) Filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission;
5) Filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania (my home state) Attorney General's Office; and
6) Filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Oklahoma City (NCS's home area).
My multi-pronged approach worked, as the tradeline was removed from my Experian credit report 6 days after I took action.
DO NOT pay this account if you have reason to believe it is not valid. You'll only be cementing that bad mark on your credit record for years to come, unless you successfully initiate a "pay for delete" arrangement with NCS.
Rather, dispute it via one, several, or all of the methods described above...you will definitely want to do #2, at a minimum. This forces NCS to prove the debt is valid or remove it from your record.
In my case, I had not done business with BMG in many years, so it was imemdiately clear that whatever debt I may have with them was well past the 7 -year mark for reporting.
Good luck!
09-24-2009, 12:03 PM
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