How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter

You've probably heard the advice over and over: check your credit report every six months. This is great advice, but what do you do when you find something on your credit report that shouldn't be there? Even if you think you may be wrong, any item on your credit report that looks suspicious should be immediately reported. After you have written a credit dispute letter, you can go back through files and receipts and try to verify the information. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and if you find evidence that the information is correct, you can always write a retraction later. Following are tips on how to write a credit dispute letter.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Address the Complaint Department
To be sure that your credit dispute letter is received by the appropriate party, address your letter to the complaint department of whichever credit bureau holds the suspicious charge. For example, if you found the discrepency in your Transunion credit report, you should address your letter to Transunion's complaint department.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Give Your Personal Information
At the top of your credit dispute letter, type your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. This will give the complaint department adequate information with which to contact you if they have questions or concerns. Further, it helps to assure them that you are you, and not an identity thief.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Address the Specific Problems
In your letter, explain that you would like to dispute specific charges. On an attached copy of your credit report, highlight or circle the items you are disputing, and explain why you feel that they are incorrect. You should also give the name of the creditor.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Inaccurate or Incomplete?
Be sure to specify whether the disputed information is inaccurate or incomplete. An inaccurate item is one that shouldn't appear on your credit report at all, while an incomplete item could be an account that has not been updated with new information. This will be important to the credit bureau's investigation.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Give a Specific Request
Don't assume that the credit bureau will know what you want them to do. Instead, spell it out as clearly as possible. For example, you could say, "I would like the disputed information to be erased from my credit report as quickly as possible." This might expedite your request and will ensure that it is handled appropriately.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: List the Enclosures
You will want to send the credit bureau any information that will aid in their investigation, such as copies of your credit report, court records, payment receipts, transaction records or anything else that you deem pertinent. At the bottom of your letter, list the enclosures in the order in which they are attached.

How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter: Follow Up
Wait four-to-six weeks and if you have not received a response, follow up on your letter with another or with a phone call. The credit bureaus receive massive amounts of correspondence, and you'll want to make sure that your letter didn't fall through the cracks.