When I discovered that Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) had knocked 100 points off my credit score over an $8 unpaid bill by tenants who had moved out, I was floored! This small oversight had occurred three years ago, and now it was jeopardizing my mortgage refinance because my bank informed me that my credit score had dropped to 670. Initially, I was told the closing would take no more than 45 days, but 80 days in, I found myself at a standstill due to the backlog in refinance loans.
I couldn’t accept that such a minor, old debt could have such a dramatic effect on my financial future. Determined to address this, I decided to leverage my platform as a blogger. Having built a substantial online presence over the years, I knew I could potentially influence PG&E to take action.
Here’s how I tackled the situation:
1. Blog Post: I wrote a detailed blog post explaining the whole situation. I didn’t hold back any details about how PG&E’s negligence had led to this financial predicament. I shared how they failed to contact me properly before letting this small debt hit my credit score and expressed my frustration over their large executive compensations.
2. Social Media Engagement: I tweeted the post directly to PG&E’s official Twitter account to make sure they saw my grievance. To my surprise, they responded within half an hour. We exchanged several messages, and they assigned someone to handle my case.
3. Persistent Follow-Up: Even after they responded, I kept the pressure on. It’s easy to get sidelined after initial contact, so I made sure PG&E knew I was serious about resolving this. I continued to update my followers on the situation, ensuring PG&E remained accountable.
Thankfully, within three days, PG&E issued a “Clear Credit Letter” to all major credit agencies and my bank. This cleared up my credit issues, allowing me to proceed with my mortgage refinance. Though it took over 100 days, the ordeal ended with me saving a significant amount on my mortgage interest.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the influence of social media and the importance of maintaining vigilance over your financial health. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, don’t hesitate to speak up and utilize all available platforms to advocate for yourself. Remember, persistence pays off, and in the world of credit and finance, staying informed and proactive is key to maintaining your financial stability.
