Help! Macy's said they reported me to the credit bureau.

[brentspeak]

They told me over the phone they already reported the deliquency to a credit bureau. The customer service person said that in some cases Macy's will send a letter to the credit bureau asking for them to rescind the report. But she said "not in my case".

I'm going to call them back later to pay my debt (4 months overdue, $45 became $112), and hope to get another customer service person.

How do you think I can persuade them to send the credit bureau a rescind letter?

[Mutley]

1. Pay the bill quickly and you might have a better chance.

Better to go without a few meals than to have this on your credit for 7+ years.

[crispini]

2. Escalate, escalate, escalate.

Ask to speak to the representative's boss.

[aden_nak]

3. Talk to the boss's boss's boss's boss.

Eventually you will get someone who will wave their magic wand and make your problem go away just to get you off their case. Be polite, but insistent. And be sure to constantly bring up the fact that this is all over a $45 debt. Hell, the time you've already spent on the phone with their reps is more than the $112 they are lacking. Odds are, the guy you eventually talk to will make more than that during your phone call.

Be a squeaky wheel.

[Bill McBlueState]

4. hey, at least they contacted you

I recently found out about an electric bill that I missed when I moved out of state four years ago. In all that time, I heard nothing from the electric company or a collection agency. It was only when I applied for a car loan that I found out about it. At least you can get on this right away.

See if you can get them to rescind the report by paying immediately. And find out what it is about your "case" that they're treating you so rudely.

[MsUnderstood]

5. IT depends on if they handled the situation properly

I got a store credit card, bought $40 in junk and never received a bill. 4 months later, there it is on my credit report. I called the company and got them to remove the credit report (but not the late fees) by using this method.

By law (the Federal credit report actin or FCRA) they have to tell you in writing that they plan to report you to a credit bureau.

Did you ever get that in writing? If not call and speak to a supervisor and tell them that they must rescind the report to the credit bureau based on this. It will be on the final demand they sent you--but if you didn't receive it then it is their fault.

They will tell you they didn't get a return to send or this or that but if you dont have the final demand then they are at fault.

Use your payment as leverage. Tell them, I will pay the amount if you agree to follow the law and remove this negative rating. Otherwise, I refuse to pay, which you have every right to do based on the violation of the FCRA (you legally owe the debt but they can't legally report it) and tell them you will work through the credit bureau.

Obviously you want to pay it but don't give them the money so easily--otherwise you have no leverage.

[jmm]

6. Don't you just love scare tactics

When I had an AT&T cell phone I once got a phone call threatening to call the cops and have me arrested. This was all over $100 worth of charges I was disputing and soon got voided. I'll bet he had a quota to make. It took me a couple of hours to find someone who seemed sympathetic and apologized.

[Double T]

7. The credit card companies and department store charge cards...

are the modern day loan sharks that given one chance will destroy your ability to function financially in this bizarre world. The loan shark behavior is sanctioned by the total corruption within the beltway.

[Deja Q]

9. I'd love to know who is going to attempt to fix the system, and

put the loan sharks on ice.

[Double T]

10. It will take a financial revolution (boycott) by the people before....

anything will ever be done.

[Kathleen04]

8. Go to a Macy's store to try to pay it

You can make payments in store and hopefully you can also talk to someone and get it quickly resolved. I think you might have better luck in person than over the phone..

[China_cat]

11. You can't.

If you were 30 or 60 days in arrears, you'd have a chance but when it reaches 90 days it gets reported. However, they have not charged it off or sent it to collections so if this is the only bad mark and you do your best to keep it up to date for the next year, you'll be fine.