Letter Statements for credit report disputes

Letter Statements for Different Disputes

Use the following statements in your letters for the different areas of disputes.

•     Charge Offs:
I have paid "account name and number" as agreed. You show this as charged off, which cannot
possibly be correct. Please correct the way you are reporting this item.

•     Late Payments:
I was never late paying "account name and number." I always pay this account on time and as
agreed. Please update your information.

•     Paid as Agreed:
While reviewing my credit report, I found "account name and number" was paid in full and as
agreed. Please change this information to reflect the current status.

•     Not Mine:
I do not recognize this account, nor have I ever been associated with "account name and number." Please remove this from my file. (Use this dispute sparingly so that it doesn't look like you are trying to deny everything and only if you feel that the creditor may not be able to verify it).

•     Tax Liens:
This is not mine. I was not aware of this until I received a copy of my credit report. Please review and remove.

•     Collections:
This cannot be accurate. I have never had any of my accounts go into collections. Please remove this from my file.

•     Judgments:
I have never had a judgment against me. You are reporting Case #(s). Please remove this (them) from my file.

•     Bankruptcy:
This is not my bankruptcy. I have never filed for bankruptcy. This bankruptcy listed is incorrect. I want this and all related bankruptcy items removed from my file which I have marked. (In addition, there may be an incorrect amount or date on the bankruptcy. Ask them to verify this information. If they can't, it will be removed)
They should also remove any bankruptcy notations (BK) from individual items.

In response, you will receive one of several types of answers to your dispute.
•     A letter advising you that your investigation has begun.
•     A stall letter asking for more information.
•     A rejection based on the time of your dispute.
•     A rejection letter based on the grounds that your dispute is Frivolous or Irrelevant.
•     A new credit report showing the results of the investigation.
•     No response at all.
Don't get discouraged if you receive multiple rejections or stalls. All you need to do is write the dispute
letter again. Often you will receive a letter stating that the information was verified and will remain on
your file as reported. You can either send another dispute letter or as a second option, contact the creditor
and ask them to send you written proof that the account is yours.

Almost all creditors and collection agencies today rely on computers to store your information and may not have the original contract that you signed on file. If they cannot produce this document, they must contact the credit bureaus and remove the item. Usually only courts have original documents on file. When requesting proof from creditors, allow them no more than a week to produce the document. If it takes them longer, there's a good chance they don't have it. In that case proceed by writing a letter to the credit bureau and demand for the item to be removed.

You also have the right to contact the Attorney Generals Office in the city where the creditor is located. Tell them that you have a creditor that is damaging your credit by reporting an account that is not yours. Let them know that you have already taken the proper steps in requesting proof from that creditor and they were not able to provide it. The Attorney Generals Office will contact the creditor and have them remove the account from your credit report.