Long story short.....
2004 was an extremely bad year for me, financially. Any individual instance of a financial dilema, happening once per year, I would have been able to handle. Unfortunately for me, I was hit with about 4 or 5 financial dilemas in 2004.
I was forced to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. My checking account was garnished by a creditor, and I started recieving court summons from various other creditors. I certainly do not consider bankruptcy a bad thing. I consider it a necessary evil - something that absolutely, with out question, needed to be done.
In June of this year, I was completely, legally discharged from all of my previous debt.
From a "staying off the radar" standpoint, I thought I would start depositing all of my paychecks into my room mates checking account until the obligatory 60 days had passed, and all of the crediting parties were made aware that my debt has been legally discharged.
So, today, I attempted to open an account at another bank. It's been at least 60 days since the court's decision, and I would have thought by now, that information would have made it through "the system".
No. I was denied and given an Equifax phone number to call. I called this number when I got home, thoroughly intent on resolving the issue over the phone....to a LIVE person. "Speaking to a live person" was denied to me as well, as it was merely a number to request your latest credit report (which I ordered).
Next, I hopped online to find an alternate number to Equifax. The majority of the phone numbers I found, were the exact same number that I was given by the bank teller. There was ONE different number that I was able to find, and as of this writing, I have not attempted to call.
Next I went to the Equifax website.
Apparently they DO have a means by which you can dispute your report...but it will cost me $9. Not a large sum to be sure. But duh! I have no credit. My old credit cards are now null & void. And I can bet you that if I called this other number I found online, to dispute my report, I would need to come up with a credit card in order to pay to have this dispute resolved.
It is such bureaucracy bullshit! It's like making an alcoholic pay for something with beer!
Apologies to everyone. I'm pissed and writing again. It's been 9 months now, and I am simply trying to get my life back on track again.
The good news is (maybe), when I get my glorious Equifax credit report in the mail, there will be yet another phone number on the document that I can call to dispute it. Bet you I have to pay for it!
LLS