Collection Agency Reporting a Debt with a Different Opening Date

[phunkyshoester]

Due to a nasty divorce, I was unable to pay off a couple of credit cards. To the best of my knowledge, the debts became delinquent in June 2001 (30 days after payment was due) and so I was expecting all of the negative remarks to fall off my credit last year. I recently pulled my credit report and noticed that the original debtors no longer appear. However, a collection agency that purchased one of my accounts is still reporting the debt - with an account opening date of 2004!! Who should I contact to report this discrepancy - the credit bureaus (Experian, Trans Union, Equifax) or the collection agency? What should I say, isn't this illegal?! Thank you, in advance, for any and all advice.

 

[army judge]

Don't worry about reporting it.

They'll never change it anyway.

What you don't want to do is pay a penny of that alleged debt.

Texas has a statute of limitations on these debts.

These debts are barred from collection or suit after four years.

if I were you, I wouldn't communicate with anyone about this.

If you do, these creeps will try and sue you.

They won't win, if you're savvy, but they'll make your life a living HELL!

However, if you insist, as most people do; yes you must report your dispute to ALL three of the ILLICIT & CRIMINAL Credit Bureaus.

 

[mightymoose]

You should report the discrepancy to the credit agencies making the specific point about the incorrect date. They will then seek information from the company making the report that validates the information reported.
At the same time you should send a demand letter to the collection company to correct their error or to provide you evidence of the date of last activity on the account.