| If you get your free annual credit report and discover | | | | copy of your credit report and enclose it with your |
| there are some inaccuracies, you will want to dispute | | | | letter. Circle the dispute on the credit report and |
| the information and work to get it corrected on your | | | | number it. In your letter, reference each number for |
| credit report. When you dispute the information, you | | | | each piece of information you are disputing with the |
| are protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act which | | | | reason you are disputing it. |
| requires that all credit reporting agencies (like Experian, | | | | For fast processing, be sure to include: |
| TransUnion, etc) respond with an investigation of your | | | | Your full name and mailing address |
| creditors. | | | | Your date of birth |
| If the information disputed is found to be inaccurate- it | | | | Social security number |
| will either be removed from your credit report or | | | | Name of creditor and the account number of the item |
| corrected within thirty days. Also, if the creditor is | | | | you are disputing |
| unable to proof their information is correct, it will be | | | | And of course, don't forget to sign it! |
| considered inaccurate and will have to be changed. | | | | Alternative Dispute Options |
| What Might Need to be Disputed? | | | | The other method of disputing information found on |
| When you get your credit report, you will want to look | | | | your credit report is to contact the creditor directly. If |
| out for the following common areas that mistakes are | | | | you contact a creditor and indicate that they have |
| found: | | | | reported information incorrectly to your credit report, |
| Inaccurate details- you may find that creditors have | | | | the FCRA states that they cannot then report that |
| reported late payments to your file that you don't | | | | item at all to the credit report without including a note |
| agree with. If you have back up information, like | | | | that you are disputing the information. Of course, if the |
| canceled checks or statements that show when the | | | | information is found to be inaccurate or an error, it |
| checks were cashed, you are more likely to be able to | | | | must be corrected on your report or removed. |
| get the late notation removed. | | | | What to Do if The Dispute Doesn't Result in a |
| Old, outdated information- on your credit report, | | | | Settlement |
| negative account information can only be reported for | | | | It's not always simple to get a settlement on your |
| seven years after the first delinquency; except | | | | dispute. If following the dispute process leaves you |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy. | | | | with an unsatisfactory result, you can then file a |
| Fraudulent Accounts-definitely look out for accounts | | | | dispute with the National Consumer Assistance Center. |
| appearing on your credit report that you didn't open. | | | | Having the case re-investigated may or may not result |
| This could signify that you have been the victim of | | | | in the deletion of an item off your credit report; but you |
| identity theft, or that account information from | | | | can bet that you will need to have documentary |
| someone with a name similar to yours has been mixed | | | | evidence to get the credit bureaus to remove any |
| up with your information. | | | | information. Unfortunately, if you are successful in |
| How to File a Credit Dispute | | | | having items removed from your credit report, you |
| You should file your dispute in writing. This includes | | | | may find them to reappear due to the instance of the |
| mailing a letter to the credit reporting agency or using | | | | creditor! |
| their online form for filing disputes. The Fair Credit | | | | Another option is to contact your Attorney General's |
| Report Act gives 30 days for the credit reporting | | | | Office if you believe the credit bureau has violated the |
| agency to investigate the dispute claim and come to a | | | | FCRA. You have the option to sue the credit bureau |
| conclusion on the situation. You will then receive the | | | | and/or creditor in either state or federal court if you |
| written results and a free copy of your credit report if | | | | feel they are in violation. If you win, all of your attorney |
| any changes have been made. | | | | fees and damages would be reimbursed to you. |
| The best way to file a dispute is to make a photo | | | | |