| You as a consumer have rights under the Fair Debt | | | | Separate the masses: If you re disputing several items |
| Reporting Act to dispute negative information | | | | you'll want to send the disputes individually. As tricky as |
| contained in your credit report. You can dispute | | | | credit can be you have to imagine the men behind the |
| negative or falsified information on your credit report | | | | curtain aren't over willing to make that extra effort and |
| by writing a dispute letter to the credit bureau that | | | | sift through pages of email gripes or a manila folder as |
| contains the negative blemish. This can usually be done | | | | thick as a bible pointing out mistakes their organization |
| online as well, while you're reviewing your credit report. | | | | has posted. Make it easy on the credit bureau to |
| Free credit reports are available through sites like and | | | | review each dispute individually. This is more to your |
| disputes are enabled through a simple click through | | | | benefit than theirs, trust. |
| feature per each entry on the report. Once a dispute | | | | Play nice: CAPPING every word isn't going to come |
| letter has been mailed or submitted online the law then | | | | off as cordial. As upset as you may be that you have |
| requires the credit reporting agencies to take action for | | | | erroneous marks on you're credit its best not to |
| the consumer by conducting an investigation of said | | | | express yourself as a demanding impatient tyrant. |
| issue. | | | | Make your dispute personal and professional. Be polite. |
| With these easy to follow steps you can easily write | | | | They can -read- your smile, lol. |
| an effective dispute letter to the credit bureau. | | | | Just the facts ma'am: Were not writing novels here. |
| Obtain your credit report: You can obtain a free credit | | | | These are dispute letters. A definitive, professional, |
| report once a year or if you have been recently | | | | polite, one to two liner dispute per item. You have your |
| declined credit. provides a truly free credit report that | | | | goal, stick to it and lay out the facts. Point out the |
| can accelerate the process of sending snail mail. I | | | | errors and request corrections and confirmations. |
| mean, it is 2009...Order a copy from all three major | | | | This is America! Keep in mind that you have the right |
| credit bureaus. Experian, Equifax, TransUnion. | | | | to dispute marks on your credit report. Credit bureaus |
| Become Sherlock Holmes: Read through your report | | | | are required to investigate your dispute and can take |
| with a fine tooth comb...or a slow scrolling mouse...Look | | | | up to 30 days to research and reply with the outcome |
| for falsified information that may indicate you have | | | | of the investigation. |
| been a victim of identity theft. Check the history of | | | | Follow up: Upon completion, you will receive a letter or |
| revolving accounts for false details, negative statuses, | | | | copy of your credit report that shows their findings |
| and outdated remarks that may be eligible to be | | | | from the review. Should you not receive a response |
| removed. | | | | after 30 days send another letter reminding them of |
| Specify the items in dispute. Be very specific as to | | | | their obligation to respond and satisfy your submitted |
| what item you're referencing and as detailed as | | | | dispute. If you do not receive a reply thereafter your |
| possible as to what the dispute involves. If you have to | | | | next step is to contact the FTC and file a formal |
| use snail mail, send a copy of the credit report along | | | | complaint against the credit bureau. In the few cases |
| with your dispute, circling which mark is being | | | | where it escalates to contacting the FTC the disputed |
| referenced. Online users can take a screenshot of the | | | | items are usually removed immediately for negligence |
| online credit report. | | | | and lack of evidence to support the negative mark. |