Now that you are aware of the potential pitfalls of the credit report error resolution process (see “Credit Report Error Resolution Process: Before You Begin”), you can go through and adapt the process to your own personal credit file.

First, start by sending dispute letters to CRA in which you find errors. Although each CRA offers a dispute or investigation portal on their website, it requires a copy of a credit report ordered directly from them; a confirmation number from this direct-order credit report is used to initiate a dispute or investigation. If you don’t have a direct-ordered copy with this confirmation number, you will need to pay to order one from the CRA in which you be sending your dispute, which is an unnecessary expense should have already obtained a copy from other source. It is also a widely-accepted rule to initiate the dispute process on your own by writing your own letters and not using CRA forms or website dispute processes.

Keep in mind that each error represents one dispute you will be making. You will be essentially writing the same letter to the various CRAs for each item you are disputing. If you have numerous errors to dispute, include no more than 2-3 in one letter; CRAs consider a “laundry list” of all the errors in your credit file a sign of credit repair, and may find your disputes frivolous. With that in mind, you may need to send multiple letters with two or three disputes to the CRA in which the incorrect items are reported. You will do this for each CRA you want to initiate disputes.

The following elements should be in your dispute letter:

1. Your name and address
2. The date of the letter (which is essential to tracking CRA responses)
3. The name and address of the CRA you are sending the disputes (correct addresses are tricky; see “Part II” for more information)
4. The letter is regarding disputed items to credit file (RE:)
5. Any report number or confirmation number related to the report in which you found the errors

For each item you are disputing, include the following:

1. The specific creditor, account number, in which the disputed item is located
2. A description of the item you are disputing
3. The change you are requesting (deletion, incorrect payment information, account is not yours, never late, etc.)
4. An explanation as to why this is an error and why you want it changed in the manner described
5. Any copies of documentation that relates to the disputed item that can demonstrate a change needs to be made

From here the process continues into a series of letter sending, follow-up and monitoring to ensure changes to your credit file. See “Credit Report Error Resolution: Part II” for more information.

References:

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

iGlobalFinancial.com. 2004 Consumer Credit Templates.