FVCK! Landlord dispute jacked up my credit score

[halik]

So myself and my room mates had a little dispute with our landlord. They charged up 2400 dollars for replacing two interior doors. We went to small claims, had it reduced and all was good.

Fast fwd today - I run an Equifax credit report and as it turns out, my score dropped to 688 (from 770ish). Apparently the small claims judgement entered my credit history as a "derogatory public record". Does anyone have any experience with this? I started an investigation to have it removed...

 

[kranky]

Run, don't walk, to creditboards.com credit forum. Check the (many) stickies, there should be one about getting things removed.

There's a number of strategies that can be used and you have to use the right one for your situation.

 

[Descartes]

I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

 

[halik]

bump

 

[shocksyde]

why the bump? go to creditboards!

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
why the bump? go to creditboards!

Some people don't like work.

 

[RichardE]

+1 For creditboards, go...now!!! :beer:

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Descartes
I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

It usually will still show up for 7 years, you can note your report that it was settled.

It's like paying your bill after you have already been 30/60/90 days late.

Usually the landlord would not have reported it until unsuccessful at getting payment or getting in contact with the leasees.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Descartes
I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

It usually will still show up for 7 years, you can note your report that it was settled.

It's like paying your bill after you have already been 30/60/90 days late.

Usually the landlord would not have reported it until unsuccessful at getting payment or getting in contact with the leasees.

Well I've launched an investigation with Equifax to have it removed - it shouldn't be an issue, but it takes about a month. It looks like they pull public records for judgements if you owe someone money and don't pay, which obviously isn't the case for sec. deposit.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: halik
Well I've launched an investigation with Equifax to have it removed - it shouldn't be an issue, but it takes about a month.

You can be pretty much sure that Equifax will simply generate a form email to you saying that it's been researched and have been validated. It's usually not that easy to get these things fixed.....

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: kranky
Run, don't walk, to creditboards.com credit forum. Check the (many) stickies, there should be one about getting things removed.

There's a number of strategies that can be used and you have to use the right one for your situation.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Descartes
I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

It usually will still show up for 7 years, you can note your report that it was settled.

It's like paying your bill after you have already been 30/60/90 days late.

Usually the landlord would not have reported it until unsuccessful at getting payment or getting in contact with the leasees.

Sure, if you settle it by just paying it and letting them update the tradeline. There are ways to get the entire thing removed though.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: shocksyde
why the bump? go to creditboards!

Some people don't like work.

ding ding ding!!!

you speak the truth...

 

[Vic]

If a judgement was placed against you, then it will show up on your credit report for 7 years past the filing date, whether you paid it off or not (but if you don't pay it off, it's even worse). You cannot get it removed, anymore than you could get a paid collection removed or 30 day past due on an account removed even after you had brought it current.
Since it has been paid off, you can request that the credit report reflect that. Then it will only affect your score, as opposed to lenders declining you outright for unpaid judgements.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Damn 770 is an awesome freakin score.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Vic
If a judgement was placed against you, then it will show up on your credit report for 7 years past the filing date, whether you paid it off or not (but if you don't pay it off, it's even worse). You cannot get it removed, anymore than you could get a paid collection removed or 30 day past due on an account removed even after you had brought it current.
Since it has been paid off, you can request that the credit report reflect that. Then it will only affect your score, as opposed to lenders declining you outright for unpaid judgements.

Not completely true. For a late payment, depending on the creditor a goodwill letter may work, especially if you have had a long relationship with them and have made payments on time other than one or two hiccups. Sending a validation letter after you've paid a collections can work too since the CA has already gotten their money so they are less likely to spend the resources answering it. It's basically a game of who has the most time to waste.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Vic
If a judgement was placed against you, then it will show up on your credit report for 7 years past the filing date, whether you paid it off or not (but if you don't pay it off, it's even worse). You cannot get it removed, anymore than you could get a paid collection removed or 30 day past due on an account removed even after you had brought it current.
Since it has been paid off, you can request that the credit report reflect that. Then it will only affect your score, as opposed to lenders declining you outright for unpaid judgements.

Well that's the thing - I never paid anything, we were dealing with the security deposit (ie. the amount of money we're supposed to get back from the landlord). The amount taken out for damages was lowered by the magistrate (ie the judgement was lower than what the landlord wanted), but it looks horrible on the credit report.

Plus it doesn't mention that the judgement was satisfied, which make no sense since it's a security deposit.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
Damn 770 is an awesome freakin score.

WAS and awesome freakin score.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: kami333
Not completely true. For a late payment, depending on the creditor a goodwill letter may work, especially if you have had a long relationship with them and have made payments on time other than one or two hiccups. Sending a validation letter after you've paid a collections can work too since the CA has already gotten their money so they are less likely to spend the resources answering it. It's basically a game of who has the most time to waste.

That is completely up to the creditor. I wouldn't count on it unless it was a single accidental hiccup like the payment got lost in the mail or something like that. Or for example, years ago I got the lender on a car loan to remove a 30 day late they put there because I was able to prove that it was entirely their fault. They have received and cashed my check, but had credited it to the someone else's account. We bickered back and forth for a while (I even had a refi of the loan lined up) until I got a copy of the cancelled check from my bank, showing that they had received and posted my payment in a timely manner, then they changed their tune in a hurry.
However, that's an unusual circumstance that has no bearing on the OP's situation. The general rule of thumb with derogatory items reported on credit is to ask, "Is it valid?" Did you really miss the payment? Did you really go to court and have a judgment ruled against you? Etc. If the answer is yes, then you should not expect to get the derogatory item removed. I'm not saying you can't try.... but yeah, good luck with that.

Halik: as it appears the judgement was satisfied, you should be able to easily get that corrected.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: halik
So myself and my room mates had a little dispute with our landlord. They charged up 2400 dollars for replacing two interior doors.

Gold plated doors???

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: halik
So myself and my room mates had a little dispute with our landlord. They charged up 2400 dollars for replacing two interior doors.

Gold plated doors???

Heh claimed those were matching "antique" doors and need to be custom made. They had an an estimate from some guy, which we later proved wasn't a registed builder in michigan (ie can't do jobs over 400 bucks). Plus we had a print out of a store that sells authentic matching 1900s doors for $200 a pop... and home depo pricing out the most expensive mahaghony doors for ~$400.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Descartes
I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

It usually will still show up for 7 years, you can note your report that it was settled.

It's like paying your bill after you have already been 30/60/90 days late.

Usually the landlord would not have reported it until unsuccessful at getting payment or getting in contact with the leasees.

Sure, if you settle it by just paying it and letting them update the tradeline. There are ways to get the entire thing removed though.

If the merchant is standing behind their reporting, I have not seen any way to remove reportings after the fact other than time. You can definitely place a rebuttal on your report stating the details (it's limited in length though). If you can get the merchant in agreement, you can simply contest the reporting and he doesn't reply to it. That is the only surefire way to have blemishes removed other than time.

These places that cleanup your credit usually just bombard your credit report with other things, let you ride on another's card as a cosignor, or negotiate a lower payoff (the difference is reported as income though and will be taxed).

Also this wasn't really a sec. deposit issue...if it were the landlord would have been covered. If the sec. deposit was too little and no one wanted to pay then that could be an issue.

Also in regards to the doors...if they were in fact 1900's doors and you had destroyed them, then 'authentic' ones from a shop and/or home depot's best is not equal replacement.

Based on the judgement in your favor though, he was simply padding the repair.

I was rear-ended in my 1966 Mustang GT, it damaged the stainless steel exhaust cutout rings and tips. This were recently purchased from NOS (new old stock) and I paid about $1000, they were thinking more along the lines of $20 for trim rings and $50 for tips.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Descartes
I agree with what kranky said. I'm familiar with most strategies, but not those that handle the derogatory public records. I'd guess that that would make things substantially more difficult. CreditBoards.com should set you straight though.

It usually will still show up for 7 years, you can note your report that it was settled.

It's like paying your bill after you have already been 30/60/90 days late.

Usually the landlord would not have reported it until unsuccessful at getting payment or getting in contact with the leasees.

Sure, if you settle it by just paying it and letting them update the tradeline. There are ways to get the entire thing removed though.

If the merchant is standing behind their reporting, I have not seen any way to remove reportings after the fact other than time. You can definitely place a rebuttal on your report stating the details (it's limited in length though). If you can get the merchant in agreement, you can simply contest the reporting and he doesn't reply to it. That is the only surefire way to have blemishes removed other than time.

These places that cleanup your credit usually just bombard your credit report with other things, let you ride on another's card as a cosignor, or negotiate a lower payoff (the difference is reported as income though and will be taxed).

Also this wasn't really a sec. deposit issue...if it were the landlord would have been covered. If the sec. deposit was too little and no one wanted to pay then that could be an issue.

Also in regards to the doors...if they were in fact 1900's doors and you had destroyed them, then 'authentic' ones from a shop and/or home depot's best is not equal replacement.

Based on the judgement in your favor though, he was simply padding the repair.

I was rear-ended in my 1966 Mustang GT, it damaged the stainless steel exhaust cutout rings and tips. This were recently purchased from NOS (new old stock) and I paid about $1000, they were thinking more along the lines of $20 for trim rings and $50 for tips.

Alright fo the record, it wasn't the landlord that reported a credit event. Equifax got it from public records - there magistrate made a judgement against us of reduced amount. It would make no sense for the land lord to report it anyway, as they had the security deposit money the entire time.

The problem is that the public record looks like a regular judgement (ie someone sued me for money I owe them), which brings down my credit score and isn't the case at all.

And as for the door thing, this was at an on-campus college house; there was absolutely nothing antique about those doors. Not any more than the 'antique' pluming in the lower bathrom, clearly visible after they ripped out square foot of the drywall/tile to fix the leak and left the hole as is.

 

[alkemyst]

yeah...credit rating companies sometimes don't paint a clear picture. Many many bad creditors spend their time in small claims court though so they watch it.

There is a judgement I am paying 8 years later now so I can close on my house. It's $211.03 for water usage in an apartment I vacated after paying the last bill and then ended the lease 3 months later when it was over.

It's an obvious error, but without paying it I am at their mercy. I could take it to court, but it would cost me much more unless I go postal and sue for damages and all that.

The main problem though is I thought it went away after talking to them and explaining how so much water was impossible. Once they brought it back up about 6 months later (back in 2000), the water company wouldn't talk to me since I was not named on the account and when they finally agreed to cooperate (around 2003...the debt collector would call about every 3-6 months for a long time) they didn't have any records other than the deliquent bill showing a major difference in water usage in one month from what I know.

And in the background for all I know is it is possible my ex came back to the apartment and turned on a water faucet and let it run. Her name was on the original bill only, but since I was a roommate and my lease stated any leins/etc on the place would be shared by all tenants, I was roped in.