Equifax Dispute - 30 days or 45 days?

[invza1]

Long story short:

1. I pulled my free Equifax credit report and also paid for my Equifax report on the same day.

2. I disputed an account on my Equifax report using information from and copies of the report I PAID for - I used nothing from the free report for the dispute.

3. Equifax failed to respond within 30 days. I asked Equifax to remove the disputed account.Equifax responded stating "Your dispute with Equifax was done within the time frame."

4. I complained to the Office of Consumer Affairs, Equifax responds by stating "Under Section 612 (a)(3) of the FCRa, Equifax is given 45 days to complete an investigation on disputes made after a consumer receives their annual free credit file."

The FCRA definitely uses the word "receiving". However if I also PAID for my report, and I only used information & copies of the PAID report for the dispute, does Equifax still get 45 days?

Thanks for reading this!

[Trish]

How did you dispute? (mail/online/phone).....and did you specify the report # (of the paid CR)?

[invza1]

Hey Trish :-) I disputed by mail...I did not specify a report#. I paid for the report through myFico and I still have the receipt if necessary.

I paid for the report on 4/9/09, I pulled my free report on 4/10/09. The dispute letter I sent clearly states "I paid for my credit report on 4/9/09 and found several errors." I also made it a point not to use any information from the free report - for example, an HSBC account I disputed did not show the account# on the paid report (it did show the account# on the free report) so in the letter I did not include the account #.

What do you think?

[Trish]

Hmm.... I just wonder if it hurt your chances (for proof) by not putting that CR # on the dispute.
I would still try and challenge it. Respond to them by stating that you DID pay for a report and disputed off of that and be sure to give them the CR #. Let them know (and pull up the FCRA and state the statute to back yourself up) that you are aware that when using a PAID report that the investigation is 30 days and they are in violation. Demand deletion of the acct stating that they did not investigate within the time allowed and per the FCRA, the acct must now be removed from your credit file.

It also wouldn't hurt to file complaints with the BBB and the FTC.

[invza1]

Thank you Trish :-) I have another credit question for you -- should I make a new post or send a pm?

[Trish]

Originally Posted by invza1

Thank you Trish :-) I have another credit question for you -- should I make a new post or send a pm?

If it's on a different topic, then go ahead and start a new thread.
I don't mind pms... but it's always best to post in public so others can also chime in and it's also helpful for anyone in a similar situation.