I have a child support and credit reporting question. I live in Alabama. I have a 19 year old girl that I had a DNA done whwn she was born, that took about a year and a half. So, she was mine and I had Arrears to pay plus the Genetic Fees. I was reported to the credit Agencies. I finally paid all offf all Arrears this past September. When should this come off my credit report. This started in 1996.
Optional Information: Country relating to Question: United States State (if USA): Alabama Already Tried: Contacting the CRA and State. 2 of the three CRA's deleted it.
Hello there
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Credit agencies have the legal right to continue to report negative information on a credit report for up to 7 years after the account is paid off. You can force them to make a notation in the comments column that states that the account was paid off in full as of Sept 2011 but they do not have to remove the information if they choose not to do so. Typically, the negative reports will all fall away within 2-3 years of the last payoff date aNyway because the creditor does not continue to report -- but at this point they are still within their legal rights to continue the reports for up to 7 years. My suggestion is to write to them to make sure they add in the comments that it was paid in full and then continue to write to them every 6 months or so and request that it be removed (challenge it) -- sooner or later they will get tired of it and no one will respond to them on the other end and they will probably remove it. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov -- they are the federal agency that oversees the credit and collection industry including the major collection reporting agencies.
MARY
ok, so the 7 years is from the time it is paid in full not the time of the first delinquent payment. In this case, this case was open in 1996. The child is now 19 and I just received a overage check for over payment. I was told by Experian that if it is over 7 years old it would come off. The only problem is that the state is showing it as of today in collections.
Hello again
Yes, the 7 years is from the last activity date and that is what Experian meant. Contact the state and get them to straighten it out and report it correctly to the credit agencies -- I have found that the states are quick to collect but not so quick to straighten out credit reporting errors and you must keep on them and keep checking your credit reports. I know it is a pain, but I had to remove the same lien from my sister's house three times over 7 years because her husband's debt was paid and they kept renewing the lien when it came up in their sytstem -- and then I had to contact them and tell them to remove it again.
Experience: 13 years experience, divorce & custody issues, protective orders, child abuse issues