Does age play a factor?

[Science Nerd]

Hello. Last year, I over drafted my bank account and got into chex systems. I owe them around $700. It wasn't overdrawn by much, but I lost my job around that time and ended up racking up overdraft fees.

 

I've been trying to save up the money to pay it off, but without a steady job I haven't gotten far. I was thinking about writing them a letter and explaining the situation, and asking them to remove it from chex systems. I'd just turned eighteen a month before the overdraft, and I was hoping they'd be more likely to forgive it since my budget skills were obviously rather poor around that time.

 

Is this a good idea?

 

Barring that, my plan is to keep saving and send them a pay-to-delete later. What's the success rate of those?

 

Oh, I should add that it says I've been reported for "Account Abuse."

 

Thank you for any help and advice you can give me.

Edited April 25, 2009 by Science Nerd

[mca]

Who is the reporting bank? Some banks are not as likely to work with you as others. Remember paying it off may update the report date and then you will be reported for an additional 5 years from the date paid.

 

Very few people have been able to use pay for deletion methods. if you are going to try this method, make sure you get something in writing. MANY MANY banks lie and will tell you that it will be removed and it is never removed. Most banks will not agree to this and claim that it is illegal for them to give something in writing.

 

Account abuse is yet another vague indicator the same as suspected fraud that the banks use when reporting. They really have no basis to report as such. You can always dispute with chexsystems.

[Science Nerd]

Thank you, the bank is Charter One. I'm not sure they'll be willing to work with me. I explained the situation when the account first got over drafted, but I suspect telling them about it motivated them to charge it off more quickly.

 

I've read some about the dispute method, and I'll try that.

[Science Nerd]

I used Click2Mail to send in a dispute letter today. It should be sent on Saturday. I guess all that's left now to do is wait.

[Science Nerd]

It's been a week since Click2Mail sent out the letter, and no response from them yet.

[Science Nerd]

When they send you the letter asking you for additional info to help with the investigation, are you required to send it back?