What Information Should You Include in a Credit Dispute Letter?
Do you check your credit file regularly to make sure everything in it is accurate? Do you know what to do if one of your creditors is reporting inaccurate data, such as a delinquent account that has since been paid off? The first step is usually to send them a credit dispute letter detailing the misinformation and requesting that they update your credit file.
Let’s take a look at what a credit dispute letter should include.
5 Things to Include in a Credit Dispute Letter
Here are five basic items that should be included in any credit dispute letter you send to a creditor, as it will help them verify your claim and more quickly update the records.
- Your identifying information (acct number, address, etc.) for account verification — Don’t accidentally forget to tell them who you are and what account your letter is in reference to. If they can’t easily find your information in their system it will be difficult for them to help you update your credit file with the correct information. Include your name, address, telephone number, and any relevant account numbers or other account information.
- Details about the specific incorrect information in your credit file — Tell them exactly what has been incorrectly reported in your credit file. Include a copy of your credit file with that information highlighted if possible. Tell them why this information is incorrect (such as mentioning a payment that brought your account up to date).
- Further information regarding the inaccuracy — You should also attach evidence to support your claim of inaccuracy. For example, include a payment receipt. Or you can print your statement from their website to show that the account is up to date and has been for a while.
- A request for action — Tell them exactly how you want the report updated. Telling them something is wrong is a good start, but you want them to take a specific action. For example, you might ask them to update your credit file to reflect that a debt has been paid in full. Or you might ask them to update your credit file to reflect new account information that may have changed (such as a new credit limit which would influence your debt-to-credit ratio that other creditors are interested in).
- The date -- It might sound simple, but don’t forget to include this. You should keep a copy of the letter for your records and you’ll want to be able to refer to the date your letter was sent should you have to contact the credit bureaus themselves. You should only have to do that if the creditors don’t update the record on their own.
Credit file dispute letters will vary a great deal depending on what the problem is, how severe it is, and how much documentation you can include to prove your case. If you need further help, you can use our sample credit file dispute letter as a model.
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