Method of Verification Letter
A method of verification (MOV) letter is a follow-up you send after a credit bureau returns a disputed item as "verified." Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to request a description of the procedure the bureau used to verify the item, including the business it contacted. It puts pressure on a bureau that "verified" an item without a genuine investigation.
FCRA Section 611(a)(7) — 15 U.S.C. §1681i(a)(7)
After a reinvestigation, a consumer reporting agency must, on your request, provide a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy of the disputed item, including the name, address, and telephone number of any furnisher it contacted.
When to use this letter
- You disputed an item and the bureau returned it as "verified" without explanation.
- You suspect the bureau did not perform a genuine reinvestigation.
- You want to document the bureau’s process before escalating further.
How to send it
Reference the prior dispute
Cite the item and the date the bureau told you it was "verified."
Request the procedure
Ask, under Section 611(a)(7), for a description of how the item was verified and who was contacted.
Ask for the furnisher’s details
Request the name, address, and phone number of any business the bureau contacted.
Use the response to escalate
If the bureau cannot describe a real procedure, you have grounds to dispute again or file a direct dispute.
Method of Verification 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: Request for method of verification under FCRA Section 611(a)(7)
To Whom It May Concern:
On [date], I received your response stating that the following disputed item had been "verified":
Creditor / furnisher: [Creditor Name]
Account number: [xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-1234]
Under Section 611(a)(7) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §1681i(a)(7)), I am requesting a description of the procedure used to verify this item, including:
1. The method used to determine that the information is accurate.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of any furnisher your agency contacted.
3. Copies of any documents relied upon in the verification.
If the item cannot be supported by a description of an actual verification procedure, please remove it from my report. Please send your response to the address above.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]Tips before you send
- Send it soon after you receive the "verified" result, and reference that result’s date.
- Keep the bureau’s response — a vague or non-answer supports a follow-up dispute.
- Pair it with a Section 623 direct dispute to the creditor for the strongest paper trail.
Frequently asked questions
When do I send a method of verification letter?
Send it after a bureau returns a disputed item as "verified." It asks the bureau to describe exactly how it confirmed the item.
Does the bureau have to tell me how it verified?
Section 611(a)(7) of the FCRA requires the bureau, on request, to describe the procedure it used, including the furnisher it contacted.
What if the bureau ignores my request?
A bureau that cannot describe a genuine verification procedure may have grounds to remove the item. You can dispute again, file a direct dispute with the creditor, or escalate to the CFPB.
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.
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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.