Collection account with no SSN on report.

[z00ropa]

Ok, I have (or rather had) excellent credit. Decide I will check my credit report just for fun.. and find a collection account for $71 lousy stinking dollars.
Call the collection agency and they tell me its for a BMG music(or DVD) club subscription. I haven't opened one of these in years, and anyone who has ever opened one knows that you can open them in all kinds of names, you dont need a SSN just an address and a pen, hell when I was a teenager my dog got 10 free CDs from Columbia House.

Question is... how can they put an item on my credit report without a SSN?

I told the collection agency I will pay the $71 even though I feel its not mine if they delete it off my report, which they say they will after I pay. I told them no way, give me a letter stating you will delete when paid and I will pay you, but they won't do it. So there it sits.

I called one of the credit agencies and they said if they have your name and address they can put it on your report. That seems like bull to me.

(I better check my dog's credit report also I suppose)

[Jeanie]

Yes, I believe that is it true, they don't need your SSN to report to your credit report. I would pay it off and request in writing that you want it taken off along with a letter saying it will be done. Keep copies and send it via certified. That way they will have to sign for it and you get the signed copy proving they received the letter. Good Luck!

[AMJ21]

By the industry's own admission +/- 70% of the info at the CRAs is inaccurate.

You have 2 options. Do as you stated and PFD or DV these guys through the CRA. If they can't verify in 30 days the CRA will delete. Go to the FTC website and download a copy of the FCRA.

[z00ropa]

My girlfriend happens to actually be a manager at a collection agency, her boss told her that it was odd they reported it without a SSN but told me what I should do if my dispute does not remove it is: Send a certified cover letter with my check stating that this check pays the (lousy $71) balance in full and that depositing this check is an agreement to remove any reference of this account from my credit report, also right something similar in the check memo. Make copies of everything of course, and if/when they deposit the check get a copy of the check. If they don't remove it then this paperwork should be sufficient to have it removed from my credit report.

Would that work?

[AMJ21]

You can surely do this. However, by your own recollection, this is not your's. If you're in a hurry to fix FICO, pay it and get it over with. If not, DV them. When they can't verify it will be deleted by the CRA.

[sahilmiddha]

Yes, I believe that is it true, they don't need your SSN to report to your credit report. you just pay it off and request in writing i think they wiil give you the signed copy.