Credit Report Dispute

The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant. 

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act the reporting company and the information provider are responsible for correcting any credit report disputes. However, they must first be made aware that you have credit report disputes. A person can report and correct errors in their credit report by following two easy steps. 

Step one is to report your error to the consumer reporting company in writing and make them aware that you have a credit report. Make sure you include all your personal information like your name, address, and a list of each credit report dispute that have. Remember to send your letter by certified mail to prove that you have initiated a credit report.

The consumer reporting company will then investigate your credit report and respond in 30 days. If they find there is an error and the credit report can be resolved by correcting it then they will forward the information to the other credit bureaus and your credit report will be revised.

After reviewing your credit report dispute the consumer reporting company may decide that they disagree with the items raised in your credit report and decline to pursue the matter any further. They will send you all of the evidence that they have and the reasons for not pursuing your credit report, along with a copy of your credit report.

Another way to handle a credit report dispute is to contact the particular creditor directly. Again, send the creditor a list of your credit report in writing. Be sure to call your creditor and ask for the specific address of where credit report issues need to be sent to ensure that there is no unnecessary delay in the credit report being investigated.

Many companies have a separate address for handling credit report and it can take time for it to be forwarded to the correct address if you do not send it there initially. If you are correct in your credit report dispute and there is an error they will report the error to the credit bureaus and send you notification of the change. 

Below is a sample credit report dispute letter:

Date
Your Name 
Your Address, City, State, Zip Code 
Complaint Department 

The best time to learn about Credit Report Dispute is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Credit Report Dispute experience while it’s still free. 

Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam: 

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.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be removed (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely, 
Your name 

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing.)

Those who only know one or two facts can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you’re learning here.