How To Dispute A Credit Report

The first step of disputing a credit report is to identify the incorrect information and formally address the matter with the consumer reporting company. This should be done in the form of a letter including copies of all documents supporting your belief the information is incorrect.

In this letter one should state their full name and address. They should clearly point out what items they are disputing, why they are disputing them and a request that the information be immediately corrected or removed. For better and faster results, one should include a copy of their credit report where the mistakes are circled.

The next step is to mail the letter to the consumer reporting companies by way of certified mail with return receipt request. This is done so that you have proof that the letter was not only delivered, but also an exact date of delivery. This is important because consumer reporting companies generally respond within thirty days of receiving such letters; unless they deem your appeal merit less.

The next step in this process would be to wait. As previously mentioned this is usually a thirty day process on behalf of the consumer reporting companies. During this time they contact the source from whom they acquired the information in an attempt to ascertain why a mistake was made and by whom.

If the investigation proves that the information is inaccurate, it is now the responsibility of the companies responsible for providing that false information to contact the three national consumer reporting companies and update them with the correct information.

After that you will receive in writing, the result of you dispute and a free credit report if any changes were made. In addition to this, the consumer reporting company while include in their letter the name, address and telephone number of the company that they got the information from.

In the event that the dispute is not resolved with the consumer reporting company, you may request that they include notice of your dispute to anyone who will receive or has received you credit report for a fee.

The final step in this process would be to address the creditor or the source of the incorrect information personally. Once again this is done in the form of a letter including all pertinent information. Only difference here would be that you are mailing the letter to an address specified by these companies to deal with such problems.

Now, when the creditors report theses cases to consumer reporting companies they must include your dispute. When resolved if dispute is upheld this information will be forever removed from your credit report.