Sample Credit Report Dispute Letter and Process Overview
Picture it. It’s Miami, present day. (Yes, I stumbled across a “Golden Girls” episode while flipping channels. Come on. We all wish Sophia was our grandma. Bear with me.) I digress. You are curled up on your couch with your laptop and a steaming cup of coffee. It’s a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. You are checking your credit score after stuffing yourself silly on your mom and grandma’s Thanksgiving feast. Things seem wonderful.
Then… you notice something on your credit report. Wait. You never took out that credit card that is listed. Worse, there are two late payments. Your credit score has dropped. You have put in a lot of work increasing your score. You have been making progress on your credit journey to an excellent score and now this. You have made every payment on time and you have worked hard at closing out unneeded credit lines to keep a manageable amount of credit available. It does not have to go down the drain.
Take a sip of the peppermint mocha. Everything will be fine. Grab a slice of pie. Pie is good. You need sustenance. You have a credit dispute letter to write. What is a credit dispute letter? It is your friend. This short letter can set your account right again quickly and recoup those lost points.
Credit Scores Explained: Common Mistakes and Errors
According to a Federal Trade Commission study from 2013 one quarter of consumers, 25 percent, found credit score affecting errors on their credit reports. They are that common. Discovering and reporting these inaccuracies falls to you.
Results of Reporting Inaccuracies
Understanding your credit score is an important step in improving it. Disputing an error does not hurt your credit score. There is no penalty for disputing errors. If the credit bureau does not resolve the credit dispute satisfactorily, you have further recourse. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Things You Can Dispute
You should report any mistakes you see on your report, but most disputed items fall into one of five categories:
- Items reported as in collections
- late payments
- bankruptcies not removed after seven to 10 years
- foreclosures not removed after seven years
- credit lines that are not yours
Credit Dispute Letter Defined
A credit dispute letter is a letter containing specific legal language to detail inaccuracies on your credit report and request that the credit bureaus remove the errors. In this legal epistle, you explain why you consider the items inaccurate and provide supporting documentation. If the credit reporting agency resolves the dispute in your favor, it removes the incorrect information in your file and updates your report. Take another sip of coffee. Dang that stuff is good, isn’t it? While you are dealing with the one credit report in front of you, take a look at the other two that are also available.
There are three major consumer credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They will not all have the same information since not all creditors report to every bureau. You will need to send a dispute letter to each credit bureau that has the error on its report. Each agency has to take its own action. One bureau might be quicker than the other about removing the error from your report. Use the free credit report website that is authorized by federal law. Visit Annual Credit Report to obtain a free copy of each of the three credit bureau reports.
Items to Include in the Dispute Letter
While the reason for each dispute letter differs, the type of information you include in each remains the same. Some of it is straightforward. Some of it is esoteric. For example, it takes more than just your name and address to identify yourself. Your credit dispute letter needs to identify your credit report. You do that by including your Social Security Number and account number with the credit bureau.
You also must include detailed information on the error and explain why you are disputing the item. You also need to specifically request that the credit bureau remove the error from your credit report. Here’s a full list of what your dispute letter needs to include:
- the current date
- your name, contact information, date of birth and account number
- the credit bureau’s contact information
- documentation of the correct information
- a brief error description
- notice of included documentation
- instructions regarding your requested action by the credit bureau
- a copy of your credit report with the error highlighted
- a copy of your government-issued ID – probably your driver’s license
- a utility bill or other document to prove your address
Sample Credit Dispute Letter
Jane D. Doe
123 Main Street
Anytown, TX 12345
DOB: 01/01/01
Account#: 1234-56789TransUnion
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
November 28, 2019
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to inform you about an error I noticed on my TransUnion credit report, account number 1234-56789.
Date of item being disputed: Month ##, ####
Description of dispute: write a short description of the error on your credit report and why it is wrong.
Enclosure: include a list of any supporting documentation you are including. This might include a billing statement, canceled check or copy of your bank statement with relevant information highlighted.
I am requesting that you remove this information from my credit report.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Jane D. Doe
(sign your name here)
609 Letter Example
Dear [Insert Credit Bureau Name],
I’m exercising my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 609, to request further information about items appearing on my credit report.
[List the account names and account numbers of the items you want more information about.]
I would like you to provide the original sources of the information reported including, but not limited to, the original contract or service agreement with my signature. If you can’t provide me with this information, please remove the accounts immediately as neither your agency nor I can verify that they are reported accurately.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Address
Social Security number
Credit Bureau Account Number
Date of Birth
Federal Trade Commission Dispute Letter Wording
The FTC provides a template with different wording than FICO and the credit repair sites.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
Complaint Department
[Company Name]
[Street 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 and 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
FICO Dispute Letter Template
The folks at FICO offer still another wording option for the <a href=”https://www.myfico.com/credit-education/credit-reports/sample-credit-report-dispute-letter-of-explanation”>dispute letter template</a>.
Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Complaint Department
Name of Credit Bureau
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are circled on the attached copy of the credit report I received.
This item (identify the disputed item by name and type) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (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 documentation you include)
Where to Mail Your Credit Dispute Letter
There is no central address for mailing dispute letters. Here are the mailing addresses for the three major credit bureaus.
Equifax
PO Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Experian
PO Box 9701
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
Keep a copy of any letter you send to the credit bureaus. Also, make copies of any records you send. It is always a good idea to send this type of financial correspondence via certified mail. Request a delivery receipt from the postal service.
The Credit Dispute Process
Here’s a warning. The credit bureaus are not speedy.
Okay, let’s face it, no bureaucracy is.
You are in luck though because the government put into law how quickly they must move on this type of request. The government guarantees your right to an accurate and error-free credit report in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) of 1970. Within 30 days of receiving your letter, the credit bureaus must investigate the dispute. Each credit bureau must close its investigation and provide you with its judgment within 90 days.
The 609 Dispute Letter
You can use a 609 dispute letter to challenge information on your credit report. That is not to be confused with “409” the household cleaner or The Beach Boys song by the same name that your Dad probably sings along to in the car. But, to misquote the classic song, “She’s real fine, my 609 dispute letter.” That’s because it requires no gas, no maintenance and it provides a way for you to efficiently have many items removed that just do not belong on your report any longer or did not belong on it in the first place.
Let’s hit the high points of sending dispute letters of any type to the credit reporting bureaus. Think of this as just the facts, ma’am. (Okay, look. I cannot help all the 60s, 70s and 80s references. I am seeing a lot of classic TV over the holidays. It is fresh in my mind.)
- You submit dispute letters to the credit bureaus, not with the creditor. So, you send these to Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
- You can write a letter to request more information or challenge a debt to a creditor directly, but that requires a different language since you need to repeatedly state that you do not claim the debt
- You can initiate a credit bureau dispute online, via the phone or using postal mail. Postal mail provides you the best protection
- You have the right to handle a credit dispute alone or with the assistance of an attorney
- You also have the option to use a reputable credit repair professional to handle the dispute
What Is a 609 Dispute Letter?
These differ slightly from standard dispute letters. Their use began in 1970 with the passage of FCRA. These puppies are all the rage on the Internet right now. They get touted as a cure-all for a poor credit score. They are not magical. They cannot fix what genuinely belongs on your credit report. They can help you remove out of date information, incorrect information or information that cannot be documented.
Just a reminder. Take a sip of that peppermint mocha. You do not want it to get cold. Some entities try to gouge you by selling templates of these letters. You have no reason to pay for what the FTC, FICO and Creditry are giving you for free though. Think of this as an early holiday gift. If you do not celebrate the upcoming holidays, think of it as an early birthday gift. Other organizations offer to write and send the letter for you - for a fee. Again, there is no reason to buy a 609 letter or its template. You can do it yourself in a matter of minutes.
Another name for a 609 letter is a debt validation letter. It is referred to as a 609 letter because that is the FCRA section, 609, which provides you with the right to challenge items on your credit report that are inaccurate. While the debt validation letter ostensibly asks for the debt to be verified, if a debt cannot be verified, it cannot be proved it is yours, therefore it can and should be removed from your credit reports. Section 609 gives you the right to request more information about things on your credit report while Sections 611 and 623 provide you with the right to dispute information.
When you request information about your own credit, they are required to provide two items, the information in your consumer credit file and the sources of that information. They do not have to give you your credit score or share your Social Security number if you previously requested it not to be shared.
What If the Credit Bureau Says No?
Sometimes, the credit bureaus ask for more information from you. Other times, they simply reject your claim that the information is inaccurate. Financial planner and author Jason Hamilton say to try a second letter if you do not get the response you wished from the first one.
“If you don’t get the answer you want the first time, don’t just give up. You may need to go back and forth multiple times. And if you know you are correct and can’t get the bureaus to agree with you, don’t be afraid to contact a lawyer,” he said in an interview.
Attorney Chidester concurs, suggesting that you change the letter’s wording slightly and try a second time. He says it might take a third attempt to get the incorrect information removed.
That Icky Identity Theft Thing
Here is where you fight identity theft. Let’s say you notice that credit card you do not recognize and that its first payment coincides with when you had just returned from vacation. Uh oh. It is totally plausible that while you were on vacation a not so chill neighbor nabbed a preapproved application from your mailbox.
Not only can that happen, but it has in the past. It is one of the reasons that the US Postal Service recommends that you put your mail on hold whenever you travel. Those nice folks in blue will keep your mail safely at the post office while you are gone and bundle it together so it does not get lonely. The form you complete before you leave lets them know what day to resume delivery. Thus, you get all of your mail on the day you return.
Like Sophia, I digress. If you have been the victim of identity theft, you can use a 609 letter to verify the debt. You need the copy of the credit card application you supposedly signed. If it is not your signature, you can prove that by providing a copy of your driver’s license. Every US state requires its licensed drivers to sign their license. You will be able to easily document that the signature on the application is not yours. Also, send documentation of your travel. Why? Postmarks. The application would have been mailed and you could not have mailed an application from your home zip code when you were on vacation in another state or country.
Some items will require that type of creative documentation. Identity theft is no fun to deal with, but you can get it removed from your credit report. You now have the tools to do so.
Straight Talk on Credit Reports
By now you are probably ready to start writing your letters. Maybe get another cup of coffee before you start. Hey, wakey wakey. This is your credit score we are talking about here and it is really important to your future. You need this repaired. You need to get the incorrect information taken off of there. Here is why.
Your credit check does not simply determine whether or not you get a credit card. It is also what a bank looks at when you go in to apply for a car loan, a business loan, a mortgage. If you want a house, you need a loan. If you want a loan, you need good credit.
If you are interested to apply for loan, you can insert your information and you may get offers that suit your needs best. It’s quick and simple:
Beyond that, many businesses check your credit as a part of a background check before hiring you. If you have bad credit, you will not get the job. They do not want somebody working for them who cannot be trusted with money. That is just how they see it when you have not paid your bills on time or you let a loan default. That is actually factual.
Your credit report gets used in a number of ways, so you really need to make sure that the information reflected on it is accurate and that your score remains as high as possible.
Get Started
First off, determine which of the letters you need to use. Does the credit repair, FICO, FTC, or 609 letter best fit your situation? Do you need to verify a debt or challenge one? Is information old or an error? Once you determine this, you are ready to write. Select the template of the letter you need. Copy it. Paste it into a document window in any word processor program. Microsoft Word on your computer, cell or in the cloud works well since you can spellcheck and grammar check it before printing. Google Docs is a little lacking on grammar check.
Explain as best you can the information you challenge or want to verify. You do not have to be Shakespeare. Just write clearly and concisely.
Spellcheck. Grammar check. Ask your mom or grandma to use a computer printer. While it prints, snag a piece of pumpkin pie. Hey, eat one for me, please. Thanks in advance. Do not forget to print an envelope for the letter, too. I’ve included the addresses of all three of the major credit bureaus. You’re good to go so long as you have stamps unless you do go the certified mail route. Honestly, I highly recommend that, but you will have to wait until the post office opens.
Why Postal Mail?
Creditry Helps You Reach Your Goal
Keep your credit clean
So, you probably wonder why I am hyping up sending your letter by certified mail with a return receipt requested. It is a legal thing. Your return receipt documents that the credit reporting bureau received it and when. That is your friend if you ever have to go to court. Here is the other thing. You give away some rights when you do things online. That is because you are accepting their privacy policy. You also accept their terms of service. It sucks because doing the dispute online on the credit bureau site would take much less time on your part, but it also does not protect you legally as well as postal mail does.
You need copies of your billing statement or bank statement if you are showing that you paid the bill on time, but the creditor says you did not. Remember to note these enclosures on the letter after your closings.
Help with Your Credit
These letters provide a great way to get started repairing your credit or just correcting little mistakes on your credit report. Another powerful tool is Creditry.com
Creditry helps you take charge of your credit score and improve your credit management. You can combine it with other sites in the Goalry family-like Budgetry to better manage your finances. You can build strong credit. You can learn to make your money last month. You can learn to balance your checkbook, your business’ books, or open that side gig you have always wanted. The help is here on the Goalry family of sites. Our blogs provide real, teachable advice and information you can immediately use. Better yet, these blogs are free.
Final Thoughts
You can read all you want and bone up on better financial management. Knowledge is a powerful tool. When you build your financial knowledge, you put yourself in a better position to improve your financial standing. These dispute letters and 609 letters represent only one part of that financial knowledge.
Think of these dispute letters as one of your superpowers of finance. You can use these letters to help clean up your credit report. Using them won’t remove genuine data like times you actually did pay late, but they can result in the removal of errors, mistakes, and old information that should have aged off already.
Take advantage of these useful letters to improve your credit report and credit score. Do it today so you can enjoy better credit tomorrow.