Once you have gotten your credit reports from all three reporting
agencies, or, better yet, from a company that combines all three
into one report, there is a specific procedure for removing and
correcting items, or adding your own statement. This is a great
way to begin the credit repair process. It is well worth your
time.
| You
should... |
Call each credit bureau
and clearly identify each disputed item, state the facts,
and indicate why it should be deleted or corrected. |
| Follow up in writing with
copies (not originals) of documents backing your claim. It
is helpful to include a copy of the report on which you've
circled the disputed items. |
| Use certified mail, and
request a return receipt. Keep copies of everything. |
| The
credit bureau must... |
Investigate the items in
question. |
| Forward your dispute with
all relevant data to the information provider (the company
that provided the inaccurate information about you.) |
| This normally must be done
within 30 days. (Frivolous claims can be rejected without
investigation.) |
| The
information provider must... |
Investigate and review
all relevant information provided by the credit bureau and
report its findings to them. |
| If
the disputed information is found to be inaccurate,
it must notify all nationwide credit bureaus so they can correct
this information in your file. |
| The
credit bureau must then... |
Delete all disputed information
from your file that cannot be verified. |
| Correct all information
that was found to be erroneous. |
| Update data that was incomplete,
such as the current status of the account. |
| Delete items from your
report that correctly belong to someone else. |
| You
then have the following rights.... |
A written copy of the results,
and if a correction was made, a free copy of your report from
the bureau. |
| Written notice if the bureau
later adds the disputed item back onto your report based on
proof from the information provider. The provider's name,
address, and phone must be indicated. |
| Correction notices (upon
your request) sent from the bureau to anyone who received
your report in the past 6 months. |
| A corrected report (upon
your request) sent to any employer who received your report
in the past 2 years to evaluate your application for a job. |
| If you disagree with the
findings, you may write a statement and ask that the credit
bureau include it all future reports. |
