How to make corrections
and dispute false info... You've done
everything within your power to keep your credit in good shape - only to find
out there are mistakes on your credit report which are having a negative impact.
It's time to take action and fix these errors! The
first step, is to go directly to the source and make a claim. When contacting
a credit reporting agency or credit bureau, always make sure you keep a copy of
all correspondence whether e-mail, hard copy or notes of conversations. Include
contact names and dates. Be as detailed as possible and be careful not to be accusatory
or abusive. A calm and collected demeanor will go much further than aggression
or anger. Ways to deal with Credit Bureaus:
- Report errors through the credit bureau's website:
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all offer methods to report errors online. This
is the quickest and easiest way to get an investigation started. The process is
interactive with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions.
- All
three credit bureaus have toll-free numbers: Give the credit bureau a call!
They'll have specially trained customer service representatives available to answer
your questions and to initiate the dispute process. A confirmation or credit report
number may be required which is usually located at the top of your report.
-
Mail your claim to the credit bureau directly: Be
sure to send it certified mail so that you can prove it was sent and to insure
it was received by the credit bureau or reporting agency.
The
credit bureau must initiate an investigation within 30 days of receiving your
complaint. They will contact the company that provided the false information and
review the disputed charges. If your claim is found to be valid, the credit bureau
must fix any incorrect information in your credit report and remove disputes that
cannot be confirmed. The credit bureau is
also required by law to contact the other credit agencies and have the correction
posted on their reports. Plus, they're required to send notices of any corrections
to anyone who received your credit report within the past six months (upon your
request). You can also have a corrected copy sent to anyone who received your
credit report during the past two years for employment purposes. You will receive
the results of the investigation in writing and a updated copy of your report,
if the dispute resulted in changes. If your charge
isn't resolved to your satisfaction, you can ask that a statement of the dispute
be included in your file and in future reports. If
you have filed for an investigation and have not heard back from the credit bureau
in two months, it is time to follow up. Use the toll-free number to make personal
contact to get the most direct results.
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