How To Write A Credit Dispute Letter

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Keeping a good credit score is the best thing you can do for your financial well-being. Having a high credit score will enable you to get loans for cars, houses, or personal uses at the best possible interest rates. There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States that collect information about individuals and their personal financial behavior. Under federal law, you have the right to request a free report from each of these agencies every twelve months. You should take advantage of your right to these reports by requesting them every year. You should inspect your credit reports carefully to be sure there are no errors in them. If you find errors, you should write a credit dispute letter asking that the errors be corrected.

When you get your free credit report every year, take the time to look at it in detail. Be sure you understand every line on the report. Look at each of the credit accounts listed on the report to be sure they are legitimate accounts and that they accurately reflect your current balances and payments. If there are late payments reported, be sure the details are accurate. If you ...
... have completely paid off accounts and closed them, be sure that is reflected in your credit report. Check the details of your name, address and other personal information to be sure they are correct.

Some common errors in credit reporting include simple things like incorrect personal information and more difficult issues like credit accounts being reported that do not belong to you. Perusing your credit report carefully is a good way to detect any instances of identity theft you may have been victim to. If you have had any disputes with a creditor concerning balances due, timely payments, or late fees charged, be sure your report reflects the results of these disputes accurately. If you find any errors in your credit report, you will need to know how to write a credit dispute letter.

Write a credit dispute letter to the credit reporting agency that has the errors in your report. Include specific details in your letter, giving the name of the account, the account number, the dates, and the amounts of items you are disputing. Ask the reporting agency to correct the errors and to report its corrections to the accounts involved. It is a good idea to include a copy of your credit report with the disputed items circled in red so they are easy to see, along with copies (not originals) of any documents such as cancelled checks or correspondence from creditors that support your claim. Mail your letter via certified mail with return receipt requested.

If your efforts to correct errors in your credit reports are not successful, you can enlist the aid of an attorney or other financial expert. You can also discuss your case with applicable government agencies. Correcting errors in your credit report is necessary for you to maintain your financial health in today’s difficult economy, so take the time to dispute errors whenever you find them.