Disputing Something On My Credit Report

[kobe008]

Found out that HSBC/Menards put a mark on my credit report last August for having a delinquent account. I only found this out after they called me telling me I was overdue and I needed to make a payment. This was a surprise to me since I have never once in my life missed a payment on anything. Then I realized why I hadn't been making payments, it was because they had not been sending me statements!!

I filed a dispute with Equifax online but there was there really wasnt an appropriate explanation to select on the form. The dispute was resolved and of course HSBC/Menards told them they had reported everything accurately. Finally I got a phone number to call at Equifax and the gal I talked to wrote down my complaint about them not sending me statements so I did not feel the delinquincy was my fault and should not be on my record. She reopened the dispute so now I'm waiting for the results. I have a feeling they still will not remove it from my record but I'll report the results here when i get them.

[JoshuaHeckathorn]

Online disputes generally won't garner the type of results you want, and Equifax will merely continue reporting the information Menards sends them. Since you were truly late, that's what Menards will continue to verify.

If you've been a good customer and never missed a payment in the past, you'll probably have better luck working directly with Menards to clear up the confusion. Find out why statements weren't being sent and convince them it's only fair to show some goodwill and change how they report this account now that it's been paid. Be sure to get any agreement in writing.

There's no reason to wait on the results of the Equifax dispute. You can do this at the same time if you want.

[kobe008]

I might contact Menards again. I did talk to them once and they said statements go out on the 22nd of each month but I know I have not gotten any. I even checked my email cause I've signed up for online statements and nothing there either. Ironic how after I talked to them I got a statement in the mail a few days later.

[JoshuaHeckathorn]

Good luck, and please come back to let us know the outcome. You might want to check your spam too...I've had statements end up in my spam filter quite a few times. Also, do they not offer online account access?

[cicy33]

Just wondering but didn't you notice that you weren't getting a bill? If you knew you had the debt whether or not they sent you a statement does not mean you don't pay. If you only pay bills based on what shows up in the mail or email then perhaps would be better to have a listing of what you owe so you don't miss something. True, most companies send a statement or bill but things get lost in the mail, spam eats up stuff, I have had things go to spam that for ever has been in my inbox but all of a sudden it will change and I have to go and pull them out.

[kobe008]

cicy33, you are correct I probably should of known. The purchase was one of those no payments/interest for 6 months on the menards big card. In the past I've always relied on the statements sent to me in the mail so I would know when I need to pay it off. Since I wasnt getting statements I wasnt even thinking about it and even forgot I had a balance.

I did get a reply from Equifax about the 2nd dispute they submitted. It says that changes have been made to my credit history, but it does not say what changes. It still lists the delinquency as being there so I'm not sure what was changed. Guess I will have to call again to find out.