The credit dispute letter is the foundation for credit report repairs and the number one way to improve a credit score. After reviewing your credit report, if you find something incorrect in the report, you should notify, in writing, the credit reporting agency that provided the report. This is the process to dispute credit report information.
The error that is to be covered in the credit dispute letter can be small or large, the account balance, payment history or date last paid. As long as you believe the data is inaccurate, have the credit reporting agency investigate the account in question. After all, even if it is a small error, the credit reporting agency may have to remove the whole account from your credit report.
Under the Fair Credit and Reporting Act (FCRA), the credit reporting company is responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. You have the legal right to work out your credit disputes with the credit agencies yourself. To take advantage of all your rights under this law, contact the credit reporting agency with the credit dispute letter to have the information corrected or (preferably) removed.
When you dispute a questionable negative credit item with the credit bureaus, you are demanding that they perform an investigation to determine whether or not the item should be listed on your credit reports. If the credit bureau cannot verify the accuracy of the item, then they are required to correct the listing or completely delete it from your credit report
It is generally best to write one letter at a time and wait for the reply. This way you can easily keep tabs on the timing and response from the credit reportage agency. By isolating one problem area at a time upon you want use the FCRA to get the credit reporting agency to delete the questionable negative information from your credit reports.
After the credit reporting agency completes an investigation, they must give you the results in writing and provide a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change to your credit report.
Follow this example to write your own letter of dispute.
Date
Your Name
Your Address, City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department
Credit Reporting Agency Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute information on my credit report. I have received a copy of my credit report and find the following items to be in error. I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of the report I received.
(Here you want to list the item(s) that you feel are inaccurate in your credit report including the type of accounts, names of the creditor, and the account numbers. Include what changes you feel should be made.)
I am requesting that the disputed item be removed (or updated) from all current and future credit reports.
Enclosed are copies of (payment records, credit report, letters from the creditor, court documents, or related supporting documents) supporting my dispute regarding this account.
I demand these items be deleted from all current and future credit reports.
Pursuant to Section 611(d) of The Fair Credit and Reporting Act, please send notification that these items have been deleted. Please send an updated credit report to my address that is listed above.
Thank you for investigating this matter.
Sincerely,
Your Signature
Your Full Name
Date of Birth
Social Security Number