Credit Dispute Letter

Credit dispute letters are written by customers to report inaccurate or lack of information leading to a decrease in your credit scores. Often, you may find information in your credit report that has nothing to do with you. This happens as sometimes, certain information seems to match with your account/ credit details. When you spot an error or an outdated listing on your credit report make sure you dispute these mistakes in order to get your credit score back to normal and prevent the error from being repeated in future.

According to The Fair Credit Reporting Act, the credit bureaus need to investigate such disputes thoroughly. To start this process of investigation, you must draft a credit dispute letter to each of the three credit bureaus - Transunion, Equifax and Experian. Note that your credit report from one of these bureaus might be a little different from the one issued by the others. So while writing to these bureaus, restrain from comparing two reports. Don't forget to include a photocopy of your credit report with your letter. Never attach the original, always use a photocopy.

Mention the consequences of the flawed report as it would certainly grab the credit bureau's attention towards your complaint. But please don't take it out on them although you are upset because they receive thousands of complaint/dispute letters every day. Do not threaten them with rules and laws for they are certainly aware of them. If possible, consult your lawyer before writing a credit dispute letter to ensure long lasting and effective results.

Note that you need to get it right during your first time to avoid chances of your disputes being ignored in future. Also remember not to keep drafting them one every time your scores go down for your letters will definitely be escorted to recycle bin.

Be kind and not combative for they will not be scared at all although you may end up making them laugh by doing so. Be brief and concise.

We have provided a sample credit dispute letter below, for your reference. Please make sure you use it as an example, do not copy it.

October 13, 2011

Mr. Richard Butcher
542 Summer Street
Fernley, NV 89408
Contact: (775) 312-7060
rbranson@e-mail.com

The Credit Inspector
Transunion
1467 Greg Street
Sparks, NV 89431

Dear credit inspector,

I had applied for a credit from ABC Credit Co a couple weeks ago only to find that my application had been denied after checking my credit history. I immediately requested for a copy of my credit report which I received yesterday. Upon review of my report I stumbled upon information that has got nothing to do with me or my account. I am sure this is not a common mistake and I know such errors do not appear often in a credit report.

Following are the two examples of incorrect information that need to be deleted from my credit history/ report:

• My address needs to be corrected since I do not recognize the address that is mentioned in the credit report as mine. The address on top of this letter is and has been my address for the past 4 years.

• I have no record of the following information and it needs to be deleted
  - Ralph Creditor Agency, account - 156-75548-ABC

Your lack of attention in preparing my credit report has resulted in denial of my credit application and it is very irritating. I request you to review and edit my credit report and delete the above information permanently from my credit history.

Also please make sure you avoid such errors in future. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Richard Butcher

Also, you can review Red Clause Credit Letter, Credit Card Transaction Letter and Sample Credit Letter for more sample letters.