Credit files can be tricky. It’s not always clear how long payday loans stay on your credit file, and sometimes deleted items can reappear.
Keep reading to find out why this might happen and why you should use credit repair services in Chicago if it does.
What Is a Credit Report Dispute?
A credit report dispute happens when an individual believes one or more items on their credit report are inaccurate and they dispute the information. This process is designed to help consumers maintain the accuracy of their credit report. Upon filing a dispute, the credit bureau will investigate; this typically means they will contact the company that reported your information to verify the authenticity of the claim.
Once the company receives a notice about your dispute from the credit bureau, they must investigate the claim and determine whether alterations are needed. This process generally takes around thirty days, and the disputed information is either modified, confirmed, or deleted if it’s found to be inaccurate.
In some circumstances, disputed collections that are deleted from your credit reports can reappear even after the process is over. This is called “reinsertion” of disputed collections.
Why Does Reinsertion Happen?
While it isn’t very common, a previously disputed collection can sometimes reappear on your credit report–this can happen for several reasons. During the dispute resolution process, information can be removed from a credit report if the furnishing party cannot verify it within the time allowed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
However, the thirty-day limit on credit report investigations does not mean the credit bureau will permanently block an item from being re-reported. For instance, if a furnisher has not responded within the first thirty days, the disputed collection will be removed from your report. If the furnisher responds later and the disputed information is found to be correct, the item will reappear on your statement.
Similarly, if the furnisher never responds to the credit bureau but re-reports the items in the following months as part of their general updates, the item might be reinserted. These are just two of the possible scenarios where a reinsertion might occur.
What to Do if a Disputed Collection Comes Back
If a disputed collection deleted from your credit report suddenly reappears on it, the credit bureau responsible will typically send you a reinsertion notice to notify you.
If you receive a reinsertion notice and believe the item should not be on your report, you have the right to dispute it either directly with the data furnisher or the credit bureau itself. However, it’s important to understand that if an item has been re-inserted, chances are that the furnisher and credit reporting company have good reason to believe the information was accurate. Re-disputing the claim on the same grounds as before may not result in having the information successfully removed.
If you think you have a good enough reason and choose to re-dispute an item, make sure to have authentic documents or supplemental information to prove your claim. Getting help from a professional also increases your chances of a successful claim.
It is possible to file credit report disputes online–you can upload documents when reporting online the way you would include them in writing when filing a dispute by mail. All major credit reporting agencies will accept documents as evidence, so be sure to include them to strengthen your case. Of course, this process can get tedious, so using reliable credit repair services, like those from The Phenix Group, can help.
The Bottom Line
If you successfully get a disputed collection off your credit report, chances are, it will not return. If a disputed collection comes back on your credit report, however, it is in your best interest to re-dispute information you’re sure is inaccurate. Whenever a disputed item has been reinserted in your report, the credit bureau will send you a notice, so make sure to respond as soon as possible so they can resolve any issues.
Of course, the professionals at The Phenix Group are well-versed in this process and are happy to do the heavy lifting. Reach out for a free consultation today, and we’ll help make sure your credit stays on track!
For more useful financial information, check out our post on how a pre-approval affects credit scores.