How would old CAs know you applied for mortgage?

[deemac]

Just wondering if there is some way of them knowing, if there is no indication they have pulled credit. In other words, when Portfolio popped up with an outdated collection, I knew something was coming because I'd seen an inquiry by them. But everyone talks about mortgage apps opening the doors and I'm wondering if there is some way for them to find out that wouldn't show as an inquiry on a credit report? Or, as long as I don't see them in the inquiry section can I more or less safely assume unpleasant surprises are unlikely?

[snowpuppy]

It's no secret that the CRA's routinely sell your information to JDB's. That mortgage pull is a hot button for sure! Make sure you have opted out before you apply and you might even consider a temporary freeze. No guarantees.

 

I finally got one squeaky clean report and as soon as I did, within 5 days I had an old phone bill pop up for $100 that was beyond SOL. I haven't applied for a thing. Not a coincidence, I'm sure and no one was trolling my reports.

[deemac]

hmmm....I did opt out awhile ago. That does worry me. There are a couple things out there that are still within SOL, though nothing fresh. NCO calls, but whatever it is they've never reported and don't have any inquiries on our reports. DH has a charged off checking account w/PNC that is several years old, and there were some medical bills from right after he started his job after being out of work for 10 months. The hospital waived it due to income, but the doctor bills were separate and had a more stringent requirement for waiver. I tried to get them waived but never actually achieved that, but also never received any collection efforts on the account so it might have been informally written off. I was able to get rid of Portfolio pretty quickly, but it makes me nervous. Is opting out enough to keep them from selling our info?

[snowpuppy]

If you have NCO calling, that's as good as trolling your reports. Get rid of them before they pop up. For a checking co, read thru the Chex threads even if he hasn't been reported to Chex.

 

Opting out isn't going to keep you safe from playing Whack A Mole while doing a mortgage app. They know you have money for a home purchase and you want something. Make sure you have ALL your documentation from anything that may come back to bite you, like the hospital bill being written off before you apply.

 

Delete any old address before your mortgage app.

 

I wasn't applying for a thing, still in cleanup mode and a 7 yr old phone bill pops up 5 days after I'm clean and they weren't trolling my reports. Not that I could see.

[deemac]

Know about Chex; it was on there, though I think should be coming up on the 5 years they report for. Old addresses are long gone...except on Experian which refuses to delete them because they're associated with accounts. We actually bought a house 3 years ago, after filing BK7 in '05 and not getting discharged til '07. I really don't know what NCO is calling about. They leave messages for DH on my cell phone and I delete them. They'll call for a few months and then stop. It's been long enough now that I figured if they aren't reporting and aren't sending anything in the mail I wasn't going to touch it. It might be the PNC acct, but only because I can't think of anything else it could be. We didn't have any problem with stuff popping up when we bought this house, so I'll cross my fingers and remain vigilant.

[Link2k]

Just wondering if there is some way of them knowing, if there is no indication they have pulled credit. In other words, when Portfolio popped up with an outdated collection, I knew something was coming because I'd seen an inquiry by them. But everyone talks about mortgage apps opening the doors and I'm wondering if there is some way for them to find out that wouldn't show as an inquiry on a credit report? Or, as long as I don't see them in the inquiry section can I more or less safely assume unpleasant surprises are unlikely?

 

From what I have heard they can sign up for reporting services that will inforrm them when there is sime sort of qualifying activity such as mortgage inqs. If you apply for an Amex you may see a Chase soft pull a day or so later for the same reason. They only pull your report if they need to see something particular.

 

Opting out does nothing to protect you from CA's buying your info.