Collection agency viewed my credit report without my permit

Christa

No, collection agencies or any other agency is not allowed to check your credit report unless they have notified about their activities in writing to you. You should be informed by them at least 5 days before they check your file.

I just looked at my credit report and asset acc. ran my credit feb. of 05. With no permission, nor was I imformed.

Christa, check your credit report and see if Asset has entered any negative information in your file.

You have the legal rights to file a case against them if they have hurt your credit without a legitimate purpose. Consult your lawyer and take necessary actions against them.

Yes, they did enter neg. info on my report. I really dont know what is going on either. There are three of the same dept. store credit cards on there. Which I only had 1. It did go to collections but it was paid by me. Now they say I owe them. I have no proof ive moved, switched banks. I dont know, I didnt know I only had 30 days to dispute them either, so I only argued with them on phone. I had major credit problems between 18 and 24. To many credit cards!! I cleaned everything up. been paying on my car, a personal loan and ONE credit card. Now this shows up and really is hurting my credit again. I am really mad. I worked so hard to get everything cleaned up and now this.I feel like I should just pay it for my credit sake, but I know I dont owe this and they should not get away with it. I just dont know how to go about it now that its been so long.

Christa

Be strong!! Place a dispute with Asset on the item they have sent you in writing. They have to verify it with your original creditor and show proof that you owe it. Do you have a copy of your credit report of that time after you paid this debt? If you have that copy, it will be helpful in proving the truth.

Are you still within the 30 days period of placing the dispute with the collection agency? The debt might be considered valid if you are past this time period? If you still have time, send a letter immediately through certified mail with return receipt requested covering the debt validation procedure.

Also, place a dispute with the CRA that is reporting this account. They will verify the details with your information providers and if your dispute is found valid, they will remove the negative remarks. A copy of your credit report of that time period after you paid this account will be most helpful here since you don't have any other proof. Besides, you can always request for a statement from that company whom you paid this account. This might help!

I have had a few collection agencies looking at my credit report lately too. Had one call just the other day and read off info about my mortgage,etc. So, I was wondering the same thing, if they were allowed to view my credit report without my permission. Guess now I know I need to put a stop to it. Once all my debts are paid off, I think I am going to have an attorney help me handle that.

They review look at credit reports for two reasons: For skiptracing purposes, and asset investigation purposes. They don't need your permission, they already have it through your original creditor to whom you provided your social security number, date of birth, place of employment, etc. No use feeling invaded because this is all the info that you volunteered to your original creditor, and you defaulted on them. The collection agency viewing your credit report is not in the wrong, just doing their job.

Ari,

Will it hurt my FICO if collection agency pulls my report? Thnaks for the time.

Nope! They just look. It's a view of a debtors actual financial situation compared to what they tell us over the phone. Some will say that they're living in a box and can't feed their children and are unemployed, but they will have certain things on their creidt that tell otherwise. I once had a guy on the phone telling me he was on disability and as poor as a church-mouse. We pull his credit report, and his credit scores were so sexy there was no way he was not working! Current on everything! A big mortgage! Lines of credit!

We only do use credit reports as tools of assessment. We don't leave a mark on the because we're not the ones the money is owed to! That's all!

Basically, I don't want to contradict with Ari's post here. All I wanted to say is that the collector must have a legitimate purpose for viewing your file. They don't have the rights to view your file without any valid reason.

yes collectors cn look at your credit report what isnt being understood about the debt owing is that alot of people in this country hide well from their debt the credit report helps find possible family members, assests, dates, employers, and open lines of credit or other ways to HELP U PAY OFF YOUR DEBT!

Collectcorp pulls your credit file and puts whatever they want on it. You dont even have to owe a debt or even have an account with the people they claim you owe. They stole my SIN number, lied to equifax and trans union and to the BBB when I filed a complaint.
Colloctcorp is the most disgusting fraudlent company Ive ever come accross. It should be illegal to try and collect on accounts that dont exist and intentionally destroy someones life just for a little commision.

I agree with CollectCorp fraudsters on what he said regarding collection agencies. Some of the CAs are becoming famous for their lies, cons and other illegal debt collection practices.

People, don't get afraid if you hear a collector giving threats of pending litigation and seizure of assets. Some of them are facing felony charges for their unauthorized collection practices. Be educated of your consumer rights. No collection agency can do bad on you as long as you are aware of the legal lines printed in the fdcpa.

what is the best way to handle debt on my credit report that has been charged off? Is there anything I can do to help this?

joyfordream

In some cases, charged off debts go out of the SOL period as per the statutes in a particular state. Be sure to check the SOL before making a payment agreement or signing a promissory note.

If the statutes have expired, you are under no legal obligation to pay it. However, if it is not close to the 7 years reporting period as per the FCRA laws, paying off the account will give a better view to your lenders as long as the account does not get removed after 7 years from the date of reporting.

Thanks, John..

But I'm still not sure what to do. If I use a debt consoldation company and begin making payments does that start the sol all over again. I am thinking my best bet is to pay it off and get letters sent to the credit reports stating that. I am not denying that I owe the money, I just don't want to create more problems.

Yes, if a payment is made by you or by your consolidation company towards the debt account, the SOL will be renewed from the beginning. As per the laws in your state, the debt will be in the legal collection period as long as the statute has not expired again.

I will suggest you to review the charged off account thoroughly. An account negatively shown in the credit report will stay for 7 years only. If the statute in your state is 4 years and your debt is past this period, you can't be legally forced to pay it. But your credit file will be showing this account as 'not paid' for the remaining 3 years. During these 3 years, you might have some tough times in impressing the lenders for new credit. But if you consider paying this account, your creditors will realize that you paid off a charged off account, so they might be willing to extend some credit packages to you.

Overall, a paid charged off account is better than a charged off account only when you are far from the 7 years period. If the account is left unpaid for 6 years, it is known that the statutes have expired and if you pay it, you will have an improved credit for 1 year only. At this stage, you might be interested in thinking if you want to earn this worthiness or wait for 1 year till the account is permanently removed from your file.

One more thing to be considered here is to pay off the account in one time especially on a debt that is past the SOL. Extending the payments will increase your risk of being under longer collection period, since the statutes have been renewed from the very beginning.

Collection agencys threaten me on phone and said quote Little lady I will give you everything you ever dreamed of meaning he will ruin me. He accused me of stealing the money from discover card when infact jobs were lose my health is bad and we are trying to catch up after two years of no job and no money or assets the only thing we have is our home and the IRS has a 2000,000 lein on it. they own us

I had a lawyer do that once too. I was never notified, and I certainly did not give permission. Are lawyers allowed to do that?

Jean,

collection agencies cannot abuse debtors while collecting debts. Review your state laws regarding conversation recording and get it recorded. You can make it available to the public also, check this for more details-

http://forums.debtcc.com/forums/about8205.html

Once you have the proof that they abused you, it will be easier to file complaint against them. Keep us posted.

John said if you pay it in one time. Asset made a notation on my CR cannot locate creditor. I asked them for validation of a loan that has been on my credit report for 6 years. I only have one year to wait and it drops permanently off CR. It is out of SOL and I would like to settle it, but dont want my credit ruined for another 7 years. If I pay it in full, does it still drop off next year or reported for another 7 years as Paid Charge off? Any suggestions appreciated. TRH

It should still come off on the correct date, but you may want to make that part of your negotiations when you pay, just to be sure.

I am receiving messages at work from a collection agency called SAC. I have advised them in the past not to call me at work and send me a statement of who and how much they claim I owe. I have not received anything in writing from them and I do not know what they are calling about. I tried to call back, but get a recorder that just states they are unable to come to the phone. I would like to locate an address for them to write and find out what it is they say I owe. I want everything in writing in case we have to go to court. I have tried the internet, but there are many listings for SAC. How can I find out the information regarding this company to write to them? Thanks

Do you have the number they were calling from?

I do have the number, but when I return the call, I either get a recording stating they can not come to the phone, or I get a receptionist that will not give me details, but will take a message.

Whats the number?

800 264 7613.

Can't find anything concrete on this number. A Google search yielded a few hits but nothing giving an idea who this comapny is. Next time they call, tell them you are recording the call and again tell them that they are not to call you at work. Verify your address and inform them they had 5 days from their initial contact to mail you a dunning letter detailing the debt. Then end the call. If they call you at work again, explain to them that they are now in violation of the FDCPA and that you will not hesitate to file suit. If they do finally send a letter, follow the Debt Valiadtion process.