I had an account with Wells Fargo about a year or so ago where I accrued charges of $199. Since then the charges have been sent to ChexSystems. I was unaware of this until recently I was going to open an account at a local credit union (where I was also in the process of getting a small loan to help pay for a vehicle). I was denied an account due to the ChexSystems report. I was told by the credit union to PIF and then we would go from there. I have since PIF. After further review, I have found that all the PIF does is become listed that my account is PIF. This does not help me, for the credit union I am trying to open an account with will not open an account while I have something listed on Chex (PIF or not). I have contacted Wells Fargo (the gal I talked to had a hard time even answering my questions), because I read that the bank who filed the report must request its removal, but I was told that they would not request the removal.

Please help. I need suggestions. I cannot wait 5 YEARS for this to go off my ChexSystems report. It was only $199! And I paid it.

your only real option is to dispute it directly with chex. and hope they dont verify it .. sometimes when its pif the original bank wont bother to verify it and poof there is goes

Thank you for the suggestion; I greatly appreciate it!

I have also read that it may be helpful to request a 'goodwill request to remove a negative listing'. What do you think about that? I thought that may be helpful because the debt was so small ($199) and because I am so young so this one negative listing will have a long lasting negative effect. This is the sample letter I was happy to come across. Who would I send this to? Could I just go to any Well Fargo with letter in hand? Who would I talk to?

SAMPLE LETTER:

Your Name
Your Address
Your Phone#

Creditor's Name
Department
Creditor's Address
Date

Dear Creditor,
Re: Account Number__________
I am writing this letter in order to request your help and understanding. Back in [year when the negative item was listed], I lost my job and made a couple of late payments, even though I hated paying late. I do feel bad about it even now. However, I did get current on the account (listed above) as soon as my financial standing improved. I have in fact made timely payments since then. I've been working hard to make financially responsible decisions and get better control of my money.
I am now buying a home but having difficulty in receiving an affordable mortgage rate due to the negative listing on my credit report. Thereby, I would request you to kindly remove this negative item as a gesture of goodwill. Your kind gesture would be sincerely appreciated.

Yours truly,

Your Signature
Your Name

Also, I was wondering if I do end up disputing directly with chex, would the following sample letter be adequate?

SAMPLE LETTER:

Your Name
Your Address
Your SSN
Credit Bureau's Name
Credit Bureau's Address
Date

Dear Sir/Madam,
My bank has informed me that there is negative information reported by [bank name] included in the file [Credit Bureau's name] maintains under my Social Security Number (SSN). Upon ordering a copy of the report, I find that there is an entry from this bank listing a [name listing] (such as "debit card revoked") in [month, year]. However, I do not recall having a listing [name listing] (such as debit card) from this bank in [year mentioned].
Please validate this information with [bank name] and provide me with copies of any documents related to this listing bearing my signature. In absence of such documents bearing my signature, I request for this information to be deleted from the file you maintain under my Social Security Number.

Yours sincerely,

Your Signature
Your Name

Wells Fargo is a really difficult bank to get removal from. How old is your report? www.chexsystemsdisputes.com

I am still waiting for my ChexSystems report to come in the mail... it feels like it's taking longer than 5 days, but I'll let you know as soon as I receive the report.

Also, who from the bank (in my case Wells Fargo) is capable of writing a letter for you allowing you to be taken off of ChexSystems? Can you go into a back and talk to a bank manager? Who do they have to get permission from? Do they even have to? What is the process the bank goes through to take someone off of ChexSystems? Thanks MCA!

My ChexSystems report just came in and my report says that my Wells Fargo NSF is from 2007. My report does not state that it has been paid in full yet, even though I have PIF.

I paid because I was told by the credit union I was trying to get a loan and account with informed me that I needed to pay (I didn't know I was on ChexSystems or even that it existed... and definitely didn't know that after you paid your five years started over!!).

I plan to send ChexSystems a dispute (because they do not even have my PIF on the report).

Also, I recently received a list of names from MCA indicating Idaho banks/credit unions that do not use ChexSystems. I have two credit union's in my area that would be available to me. However, I recently opened an account in 05/09 with US Bank (where I now have an account in good standing), at the beginning of this month (10/09) I was looking for a credit union to open an account and apply for an auto loan (for lower interest rates). This is when I found out about ChexSystems and I was denied by that credit union. I would like to go to one of these other credit unions, but I am now afraid that if I go to another credit union (this would mean I had tried to open one bank and two credit union accounts in almost six months) I may be reported for fraudulent activity in ChexSystems and then I would be dropped from US Bank (who I would like to keep). What do you suggest? Do you think I would be okay to go to another credit union (one that does not use ChexSystems) and apply for an auto loan and possibly an account I would be okay?

Please help!

yes I think you wuld be fine to apply for an account at a credit union. Of course if I were you I would try to apply for one that is not using chex if possible. As far as US bank. they are NOT known to close accounts once they have been opened even if fraud is later indicated on your report. Once the account is opened, as long as it stays in good standing, you will not have a problem with them

I would dispute so at the very least, even if not removed, they will update showing it was paid