Charge offs vs. Bankruptcy

I recently filed bankrupty-chapter 7, which brought my FICO score down to 527. While trying to refinace my current mortgage, the lender told me I had both charge offs & bankruptcy on my reports and that the charge offs are considered worse. Why is that & what is the difference. All of our credit cards were claimed in the BK & we have never had a charge off (as far as I know). Can I get the charge off's remove or changed to BK or will it even make a difference?
Thanks!

Moved your posting to the bankruptcy forum - you need to dispute all incorrectly reported accounts. Please do some reading here and then post any specific questions.

My specific question is: What is the difference between a charge off on your credit report vs. having it listed under the BK? Is there a difference? Is one worse on your credit score then the other?
Thanks,
GGG

You want it reported as discharged.

Many of my accounts that I filed chapter 7 on state Included in Bankruptcy/Account Charged off

Does this hurt me to have BOTH statuses on there? They show charged off as of the month that I filed. Can I fight with the CRA's to remove the Account charged off, and would it do any good for my scores?

If you have a charge-off showing a balance - (like I did) that can hurt your score above and beyond the BK. Also, check the date info - they are likely to re-age when you dispute. If they age it as more current than your BK - this will cost you.

I do think the best way (and way it should be legally reported) is 'Included in Bankruptcy'.

I don't think the 'Included in Bankruptcy / Charge Off' is really any worse than just 'Included in Bankruptcy'. Now, it's just a matter of letting it age - and burying it with Good TL's.

Thanks! They shouldn't be reaging after I dispute, should they? I thought nothing could be updated after the discharge date. Am I giving them a "loophole" to reage every time I dispute the accuracy of the item?

They should NOT re-age it - but sometimes they do. You are not in anyway giving them permission or a 'loophole' to do this.

I had a Charge Off w/ balance (Reported) - that never was actually charged off (account was still open at time of Ch 7 filing).

I disputed it and they verified now as 'Charge Off /Paid In Full' and they put a closed date 6 months after my BK. Well, this droped my FICO about 25 points.

I guess you just have to watch it closely!

Some samples of incorrect reporting are at http://www.bayhouse.com/bkcreditdispute.shtml