Credit Report Dispute Letter
According to the FTC, as many as 1 in 5 Americans has an error on their credit report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to dispute inaccurate information — and credit bureaus must investigate within 30 days.
✦ Write my dispute letter — $4.99No account required · Instant download · 30-day money-back guarantee
What errors can you dispute?
Any inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information on your credit report can be disputed under the FCRA. Common errors include:
Your rights under the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) gives you powerful rights when disputing credit report errors:
You can dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information directly with the credit reporting agency. The CRA must investigate within 30 days (45 days if you submit additional information).
The company that reported the information (your creditor, lender, or debt collector) must also investigate your dispute and correct or delete inaccurate data.
Most negative information must be removed after 7 years. Bankruptcies after 10 years. If a bureau is reporting outdated information, it must be deleted.
If a CRA or furnisher violates the FCRA, you may be entitled to actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000, and attorney's fees in federal court.
Which credit bureau do you dispute with?
There are three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. Each maintains its own file on you and each must be disputed separately if the same error appears on multiple reports.
P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111
P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
1-800-916-8800
What happens after you send the letter?
Once the credit bureau receives your dispute letter, a legally-required process begins:
- 0130-day investigation begins
The CRA must investigate your dispute and contact the furnisher (the company that reported the information) within 30 days of receiving your letter.
- 02Furnisher must investigate
The creditor or debt collector who reported the item must review your dispute and either verify the information is accurate or correct it.
- 03You receive results in writing
The CRA must send you written results of the investigation. If an item is corrected or deleted, they must send you a free copy of your updated report.
- 04Escalate if needed
If the CRA sides with the furnisher, you can file a complaint with the CFPB, add a statement of dispute to your report, or consult a consumer attorney about FCRA claims.
Why a professional letter works better
Credit bureaus process thousands of disputes daily. A vague or generic dispute — "this account isn't mine" — is easy to dismiss with a cursory investigation. A letter that cites the specific FCRA section, identifies the exact violation, demands a specific remedy, and references your right to escalate to the CFPB gets treated differently.
LetterPerfect asks you the right questions — which bureau, which account, the exact error, and any supporting documentation you have — then generates a letter that reads like it came from someone who knows the FCRA. Because it does.
Ready to fix your credit report?
Answer a few questions about the error. Get a professionally drafted letter citing FCRA § 611 and the specific violation — ready in under 3 minutes.
✦ Write my dispute letter — $4.99Also available: Unlimited plan $9/mo · 30-day guarantee
LetterPerfect is not a law firm and this page does not constitute legal advice. Letters are for advocacy purposes only. For legal representation, consult a licensed consumer attorney in your state.