One of the more essential elements of maintaining a healthy credit profile is the verification of the information listed in your credit report for the sake of accuracy. Diversified Adjustment Services is a third-party debt collection agency that might find its way to your credit report as a result of some form of unresolved debt. If you have discovered that this agency has reported any inaccurate information or, alternatively, you do not recognize the account at all, you must take action by disputing these negative entries and improving your overall credit health in turn. This article will provide you with an in-depth guide to removing Diversified Adjustment Services from your credit report, teaching you strategies to maintain your credit health along the way. If the idea of undertaking this process on your own overwhelms you, consider reaching out to us at CreditSage for assistance.
Diversified Adjustment Services on Your Credit Report
Diversified Adjustment Services (DAS) is a company that collects debts on behalf of the creditors they serve. This could be an account that has gone into default, and therefore, was referred to a collection agency like DAS to pursue the recovery of the outstanding debt. Then, the agency might provide information regarding these unpaid debts to any of the three big credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Therefore, in all likelihood, any mention of DAS on your credit report means that your outstanding debt has now been referred to the collection agency. However, it is very important for you to understand that just because DAS is mentioned on your credit report, this does not necessarily mean that the debt is valid or accurate. Mistakes in reporting, identity theft, or a simple case of miscommunication with the creditor may have resulted in reporting errors of some variety on your credit report. Even in instances where the negative entry is legitimate, you should still check for any discrepancies within the reported data such as an incorrect account balance or missing dates.
For instance, let’s say that you’ve recently checked your credit report and discovered an entry from Diversified Adjustment Services for an account that you couldn’t even recall at first. Then, you learn that the amount they claim you owe is greater than what your own records show, and you never received any notification whatsoever regarding this debt to begin with. All of this would indicate that an error has indeed occurred and, to this end, you must file a dispute. This requires a detailed examination of your credit report before embarking on the dispute process. Therefore, you must first validate all of the reported information with your personal records. Suppose that you do notice discrepancies in relation to the DAS entry. If this is the case, you’ll have a strong foundation to start building your dispute on.
Steps to Dispute an Entry from Diversified Adjustment Services
Disputing an entry on your credit report may seem quite overwhelming at first. Stay calm and remember that this admittedly complex process can be broken down into more manageable tasks. Simply follow these steps and do your best to stay organized and diligent throughout the entire process:
Acquire Your Credit Report
In order to dispute the problematic entry, you will first need to acquire a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus. Each of the bureaus must provide you with one free report every year, which you can easily access through AnnualCreditReport.com. Look over your reports very carefully and pay close attention to any mistakes or inconsistencies involving DAS.
Verify the Information
Before you can commence your dispute, you’ll need to verify the information regarding the debt. Do you recognize the account reported through Diversified Adjustment Services? Double-check the information regarding the amount owed, the account number, and the date that the debt was initially reported. If any of this information is either inaccurate or you simply don’t recognize it, this is a red flag indicating that something's probably amiss. For example, if DAS is reporting a debt that has already been paid off, or if any discrepancies exist between the account’s information and your own records, you absolutely do have the right to dispute this information.
Contact DAS
Now, you must contact Diversified Adjustment Services directly, asking them to validate the debt in question. They should be able to provide some sort of documentation supporting the legitimacy of the debt and that they have the legal right to collect it. If they fail to do this, disputing the debt becomes a lot easier.
Dispute with the Credit Bureaus
After gathering all of the necessary data, your next step would be to file a dispute with the credit bureaus. You can do this online, by mail, or over the phone. Then, you should clearly explain why you believe the DAS entry is inaccurate. This will likely involve providing them with documentation proving payment, showing evidence of identity theft or in some cases, proving that the debt has already been settled. If it is found to be inaccurate, the credit bureau has no choice but to remove or correct the entry. Keep an eye out for any responses from the bureaus throughout the entire dispute process.
Common Dispute Scenarios and How to Handle Them
There are various common scenarios that people might face when disputing errors with Diversified Adjustment Services. Learning about these scenarios will prepare you for whatever the dispute process might throw at you.
Incorrect Debt Amount
One of these common issues involves the incorrect reporting of the debt’s actual amount. Perhaps you settled a debt for a lesser amount than was owed, or the account went unpaid due to some missed payments on your end. If this happens, it’s very important that you provide proof that DAS is wrong in reporting this amount such as receipts or settlement agreements. Suppose, for example, you paid off your debt to your original creditor, but DAS still reflects an amount owing in full. In this case, provide proof of your payment to the relevant credit bureaus and request that the entry be changed to the correct amount.
You Do Not Recognize The Debt
Perhaps you do not even acknowledge that this debt is owed by you. The implication here could be a case of identity theft or just a simple clerical error. If this seems to be the case, further investigation is a must. To investigate this matter specifically, contact DAS for more information concerning the debt and examine the records in detail. If this is a case of identity theft, you might want to file a police report or submit a fraud affidavit to the credit bureaus to protect the security of your credit.
Duplicate Entries
Oftentimes, DAS reports the same debt several times on your credit report. Such duplications can adversely affect your credit score and create confusion when reviewing your report. If you notice a duplicate account, dispute it with the credit bureaus and ask to have the additional erroneous listing removed. In this instance, providing proper documentation of transactions is absolutely essential. The more evidence each side offers to support its allegations, the higher the odds the credit bureaus will favor your line of reasoning when resolving the dispute.
Process for Responding to Verified Disputes
In some instances, after you've filed your dispute, the credit bureau may state that the information was verified by Diversified Adjustment Services. Such a pronouncement implies that the debt is indeed valid, and so, the entry will remain on your credit report. However, if you disagree with the verification, it is important to understand that you still have options. If the debt was wrongfully verified, here are the steps that you must follow.
Request a Review
If DAS has verified the information, but you firmly believe that it is wrong despite this, you may ask the credit bureaus to validate it more comprehensively. Provide any new evidence or information that was not considered during the initial assessment. Similarly, any new discrepancies or supporting documents should be provided as well.
Send Your Dispute
Sending another dispute letter might prove to be an effective option. In this letter, you should clearly explain the reasons why you still maintain that the information is incorrect. Alongside a reference to your initial dispute, remember to include any and all supporting documents. Sending your letter by certified mail will ensure you have proof that your dispute was received.
Contact the Credit Repair Professionals at CreditSage
If the dispute continues to be unresolved, you may want to turn to an experienced credit repair company such as CreditSage. Such firms are generally better at handling these disputes, owing to their wealth of experience. With the help of CreditSage, you can rest assured knowing that all of the necessary documentation will be sent along with your dispute, improving your chances of succeeding dramatically. Keep in mind that this could take up to 30 days for every round of investigations. So, remember to remain patient and follow through with each and every step of the dispute process.
Why Removing DAS Is Important for Your Credit Health
Although the dispute process often proves to be quite tedious, it is absolutely vital to get incorrect or outdated information removed from your credit report to boost your overall credit health. When Diversified Adjustment Services shows up on your credit report, they can affect your credit score to a great extent, especially when their report is misleading by nature.
Impact on Creditworthiness
A collection entry from DAS on your credit may tarnish your credit assessment and score, even if the debt in question is ancient or has already been disputed. Your creditors and lenders rely on your credit report to assess the risks you bring to them as a borrower, and having outstanding collections can make you look less trustworthy in the eyes of such lenders. To better represent your credit health, it's best to take these entries off your report, especially when they are factually incorrect.
Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft
It is important that, in the event of fraud or identity theft, fraudulent accounts are eliminated from your credit report swiftly. Disputing entries from Diversified Adjustment Services that you do not recognize will secure your credit report from erroneous information and stop someone from using your identity to incur debts in your name. In this way, you will be able to better protect your credit health long-term.
Other Legal Protections
In addition to improving your credit health, disputing erroneous entries is your legal right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA purports that the information on your credit report is accurate and fair. If a debt collector like DAS is reporting inaccurate information, it's your right to seek the correction or removal of the entry. In closing, assuring that Diversified Adjustment Services is removed from your credit report will play a major role in securing your credit health. Succeeding in the dispute process requires persistence, conscientiousness, and sometimes even help from professionals like CreditSage. This process might not be easy, but it’s an absolutely essential step towards cleaning your credit and improving your financial health as a whole.