Credit Bureau Dispute Letter
A credit bureau dispute letter formally asks Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion to reinvestigate an item you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. Under Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, once you dispute an item the bureau must investigate it — usually within 30 days — and correct or delete anything it cannot verify.
FCRA Section 611 — 15 U.S.C. §1681i
Section 611 requires a consumer reporting agency to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of any item you dispute and to remove or correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or that cannot be verified.
When to use this letter
- An account, balance, status, or date on your report is wrong.
- An item does not belong to you or is the result of mixed files or identity theft.
- A negative item is past the reporting time limit or cannot be verified.
How to send it
Document the error
For each item, note what is wrong (wrong balance, not mine, paid, duplicate) and gather any proof you have.
Write one item per paragraph
Be specific and factual. State the item, the reason it is inaccurate, and the correction you are requesting.
Mail to each bureau
Send a separate letter to every bureau reporting the item, by certified mail with return receipt.
Track the 30-day clock
The bureau must reinvestigate, usually within 30 days, and send you the results in writing.
Bureau Dispute Letter template
Copy the sample below and replace everything in [brackets] with your own details. Words in brackets are placeholders — do not send them as-is.
[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Date]
[Credit Bureau Name]
[Bureau Dispute Address]
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information under FCRA Section 611
To Whom It May Concern:
I am disputing the following item on my credit report because it is inaccurate:
Creditor / furnisher: [Creditor Name]
Account number: [xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-1234]
Reason for dispute: [e.g. this account is not mine / the balance is wrong / this was paid in full on (date) / this account is a duplicate]
Under Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §1681i), please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of this item. If it cannot be verified as accurate and complete, please correct or delete it and send me an updated copy of my report.
I have enclosed [describe any supporting documents]. Please send the results of your reinvestigation to the address above.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
Enclosures: copy of ID, proof of address, supporting documentsTips before you send
- Dispute one item per paragraph so the bureau addresses each on its own.
- Attach only copies — never originals — of any supporting documents.
- If an item comes back "verified" but you still believe it is wrong, you can request the method of verification or file a direct dispute with the creditor.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a credit bureau have to respond to a dispute?
Under the FCRA the bureau generally must complete its reinvestigation within 30 days (up to 45 days if you send additional information during the investigation).
What happens if the bureau cannot verify the item?
If an item cannot be verified as accurate and complete, the bureau must correct or delete it and provide you an updated report.
Can I dispute online instead?
You can, but many people prefer mailing a certified letter because it creates a dated paper trail and preserves certain rights that some online portals ask you to waive.
Let Storehouse360 do this for you
Instead of writing letters one at a time, Storehouse360 reads your credit report, drafts bureau-specific dispute letters for every inaccurate item, and mails them automatically — then tracks the responses.
Automate my disputesMore dispute letter templates
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Storehouse360 is not a law firm and is not a credit-repair organization. Only dispute information you genuinely believe to be inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. No specific outcome is promised or guaranteed.