How to File a Credit Dispute to a Credit Bureau

Every consumer is entitled to review his/her credit report at any time. This is according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Also, you can immediately dispute any false information or unauthorized charges in your report. Each of the three major report firms (Equifax, Experian, Transunion) are mandated to respond accordingly to the disputes they receive by conducting an investigation and correcting the errors in the report.

Take note that credit bureaus are only recording the reports they receive from your creditors. It is not uncommon for typographical errors to occur but there are cases when the errors are a sign of identity theft or fraud. Sometimes, the creditor may have made the mistake in reporting the wrong information but it is also possible that the credit bureau is the one responsible for the error. In any case, it is your right to question these errors and you should not be afraid or ashamed to do so.

However, experiences show that not everyone knows how to file a dispute properly. Some people don’t even exercise their rights to ask for a correction. This article will be discussing the right steps on how to file a credit dispute to a credit bureau. Knowing the correct steps will ensure that you will get a response from the credit bureau whom you’ve send the dispute to.

Compose a dispute letter. There are sample dispute letters that you can find online and you can follow this format in composing your own letter. However, experts advise consumers to not use these ready-to-use templates and compose your own letter instead. If you want the credit bureau to take your request seriously, don’t send them a dispute letter that they have already read a thousand times.

Observe professionalism. Be sure to included basic information about yourself such as your full name, complete address, phone number, Social Security number, etc. Explain the matter in clear, straightforward way but always observe courtesy in your letter. To point out the items you’re disputing more easily, include a copy of your credit report with the errors precisely marked or encircled. Enclose copies of documents or receipts that can help in clarifying the issue.

Send via registered post mail. Be sure to send your letters via registered post mail especially if it is for business purposes such as a dispute letter.

Keep all documents for your reference. When you file a dispute, make sure that you keep all your correspondence with your creditor or the credit bureau in a safe place. Keep the original billing statements and receipts in the same folder as these will be valuable in supporting your claims.

Wait for up to 30 days. Once the credit bureau got a hold of your letter of dispute, they will then notify your creditor to investigate. Investigation should not go beyond 30 days. If the dispute cannot be verified after 30 days, these items must be removed from your credit report. The credit bureau should then send you the result of the investigation they have done along with the updated copy of your credit report. What if the issue wasn’t resolved? You have the right to add a 100-word message in your credit report to advise all your future creditors to clarify the issue. You can also ask the credit bureau to include a copy of your dispute letter for future creditors who will inquire your report.

Copyright (c) 2010 Suzy Vanstrusen

A credit analyst and a writer of EzCreditRepairSolutions.com, Suzy Vanstrusen has been providing consumers with tips and tricks in repairing your credit. Check the site for more free credit repair and credit report score.