Now that you have properly written your dispute letters, you are ready to go through the steps of the of the dispute process, including written communication back and forth with CRAs and, depending on the results of your disputes, with creditors or collection agencies.

The first round of letters must be sent to the corresponding CRA in which you have item(s) to dispute. CRAs have multiple addresses that disputes letters can be sent to initiate the dispute process; this only adds extra frustration to the entire process. Remember to send no more than 2-3 disputes in one letter; you can send 1-3 of these letters to each address listed for its corresponding CRA.

Below are addreses to which the dispute letters can be sent for each CRA; make sure the address in the letter used corresponds to the address where the dispute is being sent:

Equifax Addresses:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian Addresses:

Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104

Experian*
NCAC
PO Box 9701
Allen, TX 75013

Experian
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion Addresses:

TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000

TransUnion
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022

TransUnion*
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
(* denotes questionable CRA dispute address)

There may be more addresses for disputes for each CRA; the addresses listed above may or may not be in service when you send your dispute letters. If any are returned due to a nonworking address, resend the letter to an address in which another dispute letter was accepted.

Multiple or questionable dispute addresses and general inaccessibility of the CRAs are frustrating. But it is part of the process, and should be considered a tool to divert consumers who want such errors resolved. Even after your first round of dispute letters are sent to working addresses of their corresponding CRAs, there are other diversions to keep you from completing the entire process.

As part of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, all of the CRAs are required to investigate and validate (with either the past or current creditor, or a collection agency) any disputed items in your credit file within 30 days, and respond to you by the end of that period. If they fail to validate this information, they are required to delete it from your credit file. Sometimes, completely valid negative items in a credit file are removed because of the FCRA-required process, but it should not be expected or used as a strategy for improving your credit file or credit score.

With all of this in mind, there are varying results that will occur in response to your dispute letters. Depending on the response (or lack of within 30 days), your next steps will be different. See “Part III: Dispute Scenarios and Responses” for a guide for error resolution actions. 

References:

Federal Trade Commission. Facts for Consumers: Building a Better Credit Report.

iGlobalFinancial.com. 2004 Consumer Credit Templates.

NeighborWorks America. Realizing the American Dream: A Manual for Homebuyers, 3rd Edition.