How to Dispute Debts With the Credit Bureau

If you need to dispute inaccurate debt information appearing on your credit reports, you must obtain all three credit reports from the nationwide credit bureaus. You are entitled to receive one free report every 12 months from the credit bureaus by calling 1-877-322-8228 or requesting it through AnnualCreditReport.com. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus are required to investigate all negative item disputes. The bureaus must also inform you if your file has been used to take adverse action against you and by whom. All documented disputes must be resolved within 30 days.

Instructions

1




Locate any reportable errors found on your credit reports.

Obtain free credit reports from all three national credit bureaus. Review all reports carefully to locate any false or inaccurate information. Note full details of any items that are incorrect.

Segregate errors according to type, such as identity theft, wrong payment history, wrong balance and unauthorized access.

Find proper addresses for the credit bureaus to inform them about the errors at the Financial Web web page (see Resources).

2




Assemble and review all documentation that will be sent to the credit bureaus.

Assemble all documentation necessary to dispute the debt(s) with the credit bureaus. This could include canceled checks, customer statements, invoices, police reports and bank receipts.

Make copies of all of the documentation for purposes of highlighting relevant portions that will be sent to the credit bureaus.

Review documentation for accuracy.

3




Send letter of dispute to the credit bureaus.

Prepare a formal letter of dispute to the credit bureaus that includes your name, address, the issue(s) that you are disputing along with copies of relevant documentation and a copy of your most recent credit report.

Prepare a fraud alert letter with your dispute, if you are the victim of fraud.

List all items that are fraudulent to flag those items on your credit reports. Place a copy of your police report for fraud with the letter of dispute, which grants you seven years of fraud alert status.

Report any outdated negative information appearing in your credit reports.

List any unauthorized access such as employers seeking information without your consent.

Send your letter of dispute to the addresses identified per Step 1, via certified mail with return receipt, as proof that the letter was sent and received. .

4




Credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate your dispute and must respond back to you with their findings.

Wait the required time before following up on your dispute. Investigation by the credit bureaus will take 30 days after receipt of the dispute. Forwarding by the credit bureaus to the original provider of information will take place to resolve the dispute.

Response by the credit bureaus to you will take place after the investigation is complete.

Corrective or non-corrective action will take place by the credit bureaus depending upon correspondence with the original provider.

Flagging of fraudulent items will take place upon receipt of fraud alert documentation.

Correction notices to all companies that assessed your credit within the past six months will be sent by the credit bureaus upon your request.