SAMPLE DISPUTE LETTER (download Word Document)

Notes on using this sample letter: the bracketed information is what you have to fill in before you send the letter.

Send the letter certified mail to all of the credit bureaus to which you need to send it. Cc the letter, again via certified mail, to any debt collector or financial company which furnished the false, inaccurate or incomplete information to the credit bureaus.

Attach a copy of the credit report which contains the disputed entries. Also attach copies of any exhibits which help prove your point. There is no legal requirement to attach exhibits, and if you have none, you can still dispute matters on your credit report. However, it gives your letter more strength if you attach exhibits to prove what you are saying.

If you have filed a police report or an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission or with any attorney general or district attorney, attach a copy of it to the letter or letters.

If you wish, have the letter notarized and sworn under penalty of perjury. This gives the letter added weight with the credit bureaus and also provides an excellent piece of evidence if you ever have to bring a lawsuit to enforce your credit reporting rights. I strongly recommend it to my clients.

Never be nasty in your letters—remember, one day a judge or a jury may be looking at them, and if they’re nasty in tone or insulting, this will hurt your legal case. Always keep your tone professional and courteous. Always be willing to provide more information if it is requested.

Obviously, keep copies of everything you send out.

You may re-dispute any number of times if the first dispute does not correct your credit report. However, at some point you may wish to consult an attorney about your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which includes damages to you, plus your attorney’s fees are paid by the other side if you prevail.

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To: [Equifax Information Services, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, Ga. 30374]
[Experian Information Solutions, 701 Experian Parkway, Allen, Tx. 75013]
[TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022-2000]
[CSC Credit Services, 652 N. Sam Houston Parkway East, Ste. 400, P.O. Box 674402, Houston, Texas 77060]
[ChoicePoint, Inc., 2885 Breckinridge Blvd. #200, Duluth, Ga. 30096]

cc: Dinosaur Card, (address of Dinosaur Card). [Note: I am using “Dinosaur Card” as an example of a creditor. It is not meant to be a real creditor.]
XYZ Bill Collectors, address of XYZ Bill Collectors [Note: XYZ Bill Collectors is a fictitious debt collector, so far as I know.]

From: [Your Name]

Re: Dispute about Inaccurate and Incomplete Information on My Credit Report.

Identifying Information—Please Keep This Strictly Confidential:

Name:
Address:
Soc. Sec. #:
Date of Birth:
[Other Identifying Information which may be helpful, i.e. if you were previously known by another name or a maiden name; if you have had another address within the last five years, etc.]

To Whom This May Concern:

I have reviewed my credit report dated [date of credit report], a copy of which is attached as exhibit 1, and have determined that the following information is inaccurate or incomplete:

P. 4, Dinosaur Card Acct. No. ******: this account does not belong to me. Exhibit 2 is a letter from Dinosaur Card customer service acknowledging that the charge was a mistake and should be removed from my credit report.

P. 5: XYZ Bill Collectors on behalf of BirdBrain Furniture, Acct. No. *****: this derogatory entry indicates that the outstanding balance is still owing on the account. I paid it off in 1992, when it was being collected by ABC Debt Collectors on behalf of BirdBrain Furniture. Attached as Exhibit 3 is a true copy of a letter from ABC Collectors acknowledging full payment of the outstanding balance on the account.

Please investigate these disputes promptly and notify me at your first opportunity of the outcome of your reinvestigation. I can be reached at the above address, and request that all communications be made in writing. I stand willing to provide more information to you if you need it to complete your investigation.

Please forward a copy of this letter and the attached exhibits to the persons at Dinosaur and XYZ Bill Collectors who you contact. If you do not intend to do so, please provide me the name, address and fax number of these persons that you deal with so that I may send them myself.

Thank you for your prompt attention and cooperation.

Very Truly Yours,

Connie Consumer

Copyright 2007 by Robert F. Brennan of Brennan, Wiener & Associates. For more information, contact www.SoCalCreditDamage.com or send an email to info@brennanlaw.com.

Disclaimer: This letter is not meant as legal advice and is provided as a public service only. Brennan, Wiener & Simons makes no representations, guarantees or promises to anyone who wishes to consult this letter or copy portions or all of it for purposes of writing to credit bureaus or furnishers of credit information.