[Your name]
[Your address]
To: [Equifax; Experian; Trans Union, and the address]
Dear [Equifax; Experian; Trans Union]
My name is [insert your name]. My date of birth is [xx-xx-xxxx]. My social security number is [xxx-xx-xxxx]. I have enclosed a copy of my drivers license and social security card, and a copy of a bill going to my current address, so that you can locate my credit file.
My credit report contains the following account that is not reporting accurately:
[list them out]
The above account is reporting inaccurately because [include all that fit your situation, or write your own explanation if none of these quite fit]:
- I was never late. I’m enclosing proof of my payments for this loan on time every month.
- I paid this in full. I’m enclosing a copy of a canceled check and a letter from the lender stating the account is paid in full and closed.
- This happened more than 7 years ago. It should be off of my credit report by now.
- The balance is fraudulently-inflated due to hacking or an account takeover. Thieves made charges on this credit card account in the amount of $______ that I did not authorize.
Please reinvestigate this information, and either correct the information or delete it from my credit file, and mail me the results at the address above.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Instructions for a strong credit report dispute
Each of your letters needs to be printed out, signed with a pen, and scanned as a PDF file or photocopied before you mail it. Just saving a Word document on your computer is not good enough.
Send them via certified mail, return receipt requested, and save your mail receipts.
Then you’ll have to wait 30 days, but you’ll probably get some letters before then acknowledging your disputes. These are just “boilerplate” letters, but save EVERYTHING they send, because it’s all important to any potential case.
It’s often the case that false stuff will remain on your reports. And, false stuff on your credit reports typically means a decent claim, but an attorney would have to evaluate that first. This process does require some patience, but is typically worth it. The more thorough you are, the better you look, and the worse they look for not fixing it.
Additional supporting documentation you should include with your credit report dispute if you have it
- Additional utility or other bills from your past two years’ residence addresses, where your residence is an issue. For example, if someone is claiming that you leased an apartment in an unfamiliar city where you couldn’t have been living at the time, or your credit report shows addresses that are unfamiliar to you.
- Proof that you have previously disputed with the creditor who claims you still owe them a debt after you paid it, but they don’t stop. This could be a copy of your written dispute to the creditor.
Here are the credit report dispute mailing addresses for Equifax, Experian and Trans Union
Equifax Information Services, LLC — P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
Experian — P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
Trans Union LLC Consumer Dispute Center — P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000
Questions? Reach out through my Contact page.