Sample Dispute Letter: A Template to Talk to Bureaus

Credit report errors can cause serious damage to your score, hurting your chances of qualifying for borrowing money in the future or making terms more expensive. To get credit errors removed from your credit report, you’ll need to write a dispute letter to the credit bureau showing the wrong information.

A Consumer Reports study found that almost half of respondents identified at least one error on their credit report, including incorrect financial information and incorrect personal details. If you’re looking to reach out to credit bureaus regarding credit errors, WorkMoney has your guide for what to say, where to send it, and your timeline for results.

Your Right to Free Credit Reports and Disputes

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you’re entitled to your credit report and to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information. Both the credit bureau and the original business that reported the information, sometimes referred to as the “furnisher,” are required by law to investigate disputes. Credit bureaus are legally required to investigate disputes for free within 30 days of receiving them. 

You can request your credit report for free from each of the three major credit bureaus from AnnualCreditReport.com. Get your free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion once a year to stay up-to-date on your credit history.

What to Include in Your Dispute

Providing a detailed dispute letter along with corresponding documents will be a significant factor in resolving your dispute quickly. You should include:

• Your full name, address, and phone number.

• A copy of your dispute letter that details what you believe is wrong and why.

• Your credit report highlighting what you’re disputing.

• Copies of your supporting documents to prove your case, like bank statements or receipts. 

If you have multiple errors you’re addressing on one credit report, include each error you want fixed and the corresponding account information for those errors.

Sample Dispute Letter to Send to Credit Bureaus

Your dispute letter should include the date you’re sending the letter, your name, address, date of birth, and any other identifiable information the company can use to verify your personal details. After that, include the name of the company and the company address. 

In your letter, you’ll write clear details about the intent of your letter, which is to dispute an error on your credit report. Write out the dispute, including the account number, the dates associated with what you’re disputing, and an explanation of the item being disputed. If you have multiple disputes, do this step for each one. Mention that you’re attaching documents that are related to the corresponding errors you’re disputing before signing and printing your name at the end.

Here’s what a sample dispute letter could look like.

[Date]
[Your name]
[Date of birth or other identifying information requested by the company]
[Your street address, city, state, and zip code] 

[Company Name] 
[Company street address, city, state, and zip code]

Re:  Disputing error[s] on credit report

Dear [Name of company],

I am writing to dispute the following information that your company supplied to [give the name of the credit bureau whose report has incorrect information]. I have circled the disputed items on the attached copy of my credit report(s).

This item [for instance: retailer account at ABC Department Store and the account number] is inaccurate [or incomplete] because [describe in detail what is inaccurate or incomplete and why]. I am requesting that [business name] have the item removed [or request another specific change to correct the information.]

[Add list and description of other disputed items, if that applies.]

Enclosed are copies of [my credit report and any other documents enclosed with a short description, for instance, your record of payments made] supporting my request. Please reinvestigate this matter and contact the nationwide credit bureaus to have them delete [or correct] the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Thank you for your assistance. 

Sincerely,

[Your signature and printed name]

Where to Send Your Dispute Letter

You can submit your dispute to each of the three major credit bureaus either online or by mail. 

Equifax

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30348

Submit a dispute to Equifax online or call (866) 349-5191.

Experian

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

Submit a dispute to Experian online or call (888) 397-3742.

TransUnion

TransUnion LLC Consumer Dispute Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Submit a dispute to TransUnion online or call (800) 916-8800.

While it’s easy to submit your dispute online or even call the credit bureau, sending your dispute through certified mail creates a paper trail. Certified mail is proof of the mailing and delivery. You’ll receive a delivery receipt, and it requires the recipient's signature. Sending your dispute through certified mail isn’t required, but it might be your best option.

How Long Do Credit Bureaus Have to Investigate?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) says credit bureaus have 30 days from the date they receive your dispute to investigate it, although in some cases it can take upwards of 45 days to complete the investigation.

Credit bureaus are required to notify you of the results within five business days of completing the investigation. 

You may not be happy with the results of the investigation. You can add a personal statement of dispute to each credit report that displays the error and request that the credit bureau give that statement to anyone who requests your credit report, although you might face a fee for this service. 

If you’re having trouble with your dispute or your credit reporting agency, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The Bottom Line

You have a federal right to dispute errors on your credit report for free and to receive notice about that dispute in a reasonable time after submitting those errors. 

Keep tabs on your credit report by pulling your credit report for free once a year. You can also pull your report from a single bureau every four months to monitor changes and updates. But keep in mind that bureaus don’t share information, so if a furnisher only reports your activity to one bureau, you may not see it on other reports. 

Monitoring your credit report is one of the best ways to stay up-to-date on your credit history. If you want to find clarity and confidence in your finances, read the “Joy of Money.”

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