Yup, but... you might wanna make sure and wait for another commenter to confirm this as I am not completely sure. Better yet, why don't you contact the Lending Tree guys because they can give you an answer better...

I think it will work sooner or later. May take a few months. I plan on doing the same next month...

First step is done. Swapped out existing account for a new card with miles. No inquiry, and a better rate to boot. Now, with CHOD, I will dispute the original account as closed, with no late pays and hope for the best. Or maybe dispute as not mine. Not sure yet...

Just a question cuz I'm a newbie, but....

When you dispute as "not mine", isn't it easier to verify as yours, rather than disputing as "never late"? I have several late payments for credit cards, an auto loan, and a closed Lending Tree mortgage and am getting ready to dispute, and I don't see how I can dispute as not mine, seeing as they most definitely were mine? They also were in fact late, but I think I have a better chance of coming back unverified if I say never late, as opposed to not mine..

This is my first dispute, so if I'm wrong, PLEASE let me know so I don't make an obvious mistake with my disputes.....

In my own experience, the exact opposite of what you said is true. I have several old, closed accounts with late pays that were continually verified in disputes. I finally called a couple of them, had the accounts reopened, and without me even having to request it, the accounts were brought current on my reports. I had planned on establishing a couple of months of good payment history and requesting a good-will adjustment but it turned out not to be necessary..

I can only speculate that most creditors are more likely to want to help you if you're a current paying customer. Where's the incentive to help someone when you have nothing to gain?.

Hopefully you will have luck with your strategy. Please post how it turns out...

Beck20,.

I believe your strategy to be the best. Its allot easier for a CRA to stamp "verified" on an account when you dispute it as "not mine" - all they need to do is get a quick verification from the creditor and presto, it's verified. But when you dispute as "never late", now they actually have to research it with the creditor. The point I'm trying to make is that they might be more inclined to actually take your word for it and just update it as not late (if they get lazy and dont want to research it any futher)..

This is only an assumption on my part, so just take it with a gain of salt..

-Sal..

Thanks Sal! That was a question that I had been pondering for awhile, so I'm glad you verified what my initial thought was....

Have a happy Thanksgiving holiday!!!..

Are you sure about this statement? For example, I have MBNA and have switched cards multiple times. Each time they just change the account number on my CR but it still has the same history (lates, etc.). I just wrote them a goodwill letter finaly back in May and they removed the lates for me, but switching accounts over the years did not produce the outcome you are looking for...

Interesting I guess we'll see. I tried twice with a goodwill letter to MBNA, to no avail. They always respond, saying we can't do that, never do, etc. I figured this was the next best option. When you switched cards, what appeared on the report? what happened to the old account listing? if they delete the old one, then it's very tough for them to argue past lates on a card you've only had for a short while...

On my report, the list stayed exactly the same except the modified the account number to match the new one. They did not remove and replace the existing one, just modified it. So your past history, etc. will stay there. It does not list your previous one as closed since MBNA considers it the same line of credit just with a different product that requires a new card number. The only way to do what you want to do is to open a completely NEW account with MBNA and then close your old account.

But living in NE Ohio, I know many, many people who work for MBNA and I can tell you, Open or Closed they'll verify the lates. They keep meticulous records. You're only hope is the goodwill. I wrote my letter to the office of the chairman and that's how I got my lates removed..

How many lates do you have and when did they happen?..