AT&T refuses to remove an errant charge. Billing/Collection/Fraud all investigated!

[kiko123]

AT&T is reporting me having a past due balance on my account for $500 and has sent it to a collection company.  The problem is I have never had AT&T and none of the info on the account matches mine, other than last name apparently (which has a different social). 

They have run social security number searches, asked previous addresses, etc. and cannot find me anywhere, not a single record.  Despite me proving time and time again I did not, have not, and will never have their service, these fools still won't remove the info from my credit report.  I asked them simply to give me a letter stating that had no record of me to get this removed from my credit report and I was advised to call a collection agency, see if they can find it, and discuss with them whether or not it is legit.  Help me, this has taken a week already and I am literally 3 weeks away from closing on a house and this mess dropped my credit score 84 points!!!

[kiko123]

Any ideas on what I can do?

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

Contact the three credit bureaus and dispute the item.  They will open an investigation that will require a response from ATT.  This is the best way to get it off your report.  I have done this with a different creditor and had good results but ATT is right you need to go through the bureaus on this one.

I think that it will not be used in your score while it is in dispute but I am not 100% sure.  Question for your mortgage broken is will thses 84 points lead to a deniel of credit and/or cause you to pay a higher rate?  If not, you still need to work the report but it is not as critical.  Your mortgage broker may also be able to help as they often have to get things like this off reports quick.

[harryspar]

BBB, FTC, FCC & your state's attorney general. If your local newspaper or TV station has a "on-your-side" type of program call them.

Read up on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

The forum rules prohibit legal advice so I can't write more - they censor it. But you might want to post on forums that have more freedom of speech. Try HowardForums.com

[Edited to comply with Guidelines] -

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

From the FTC site on how to correct Errors.

Correcting Errors

Under the FCRA, both the credit reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a credit reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under this law, contact the credit reporting company and the information provider.

Google "How to dispute credit report" and look for the FTC article for disputing your credit report.  It was the first item for me.

YOu can go to the others as the one poster suggests but going to the credit agencies is the appropriate method per the "Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act"

[Att is a joke]

Yes, even in dispute it will affect your credit score, until it is removed from your credit report.  I'm in the same boat, my mortgage broker told me to call the credit bureau directly and explain the situation to them.  With a case like this, I don't know how they can even report you if they don't have your SS#.

[jamileh]

I'm sorry you're dealing with a credit issue. Were you able to get this addressed or do you still need assistance?

If you need assistance, please send me a private message with your name, phone number and the best time to contact you?




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