What You Should Have Done.

Before starting, make sure you have done the following…

  • You requested and received your credit report.
  • You have identified the items that you want to dispute. These are items that negatively affect your ability to get credit.
  • You have mailed all 3 credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) a letter identifying each inaccuracy.
  • The credit reporting agencies (CRAs) have responded by mail.

What Happens Next?

After doing the above, what happens if the credit reporting agency says they cannot investigate your claim. That is pure garbage. Whether they decide a dispute is worth investigating or they just do not want to spend the time, it is seen by the CRA as a “frivolous” claim.

The letter could be as follows:

Re: Your Equifax Credit Report

We have recieved a dispute related to your credit report from a 3rd party that we believe is acting as a credit repair organization. By Federal Trade Commission guidelines, credit reporting agencies are not required to address disputes submitted by a 3rd party. Additionally, our experience indicates many credit repair organizations challenge accurate information or file irrelevant disputes. Therefore, we have made a reasonable determination that this disputed item, done on your behalf, is frivolous or irrelevant. On this basis, no action will be taken on this dispute.

By federal law, if there are inaccuracies or incompletions on your credit report, and you personally notify us, a reinvestigation is made at no charge to you. If this is applicable to you, please send a dispute identifying each item that is inaccurate and describe why you believe it is incorrect. Enclosed is a Request for Investigation form. Mail it to the address at the end of this letter. After your request is received, the item will be reinvestigated and you will receive a response in writing in 30 days.

Be aware, we do not accept disputes from parties acting on your behalf (3rd parties) unless you have formally granted permission by a notarized power of attorney with the standing to authorize a licensed attorney or a family member to do so, or if it is an unlimited and irrevocable power of attorney.

If the credit repair organization misrepresented its services while acting on your behalf, and want to contact law enforcement to file a complaint, we can refer you to the proper authorities.

If you need more information, please contact Equifax at the address below. When you call or write, please refer to file number *********.

P.O. Box 400
Chester, PA 19016-4000

For additional issues or information, contact Equifax at the address shown, or visit our website, www.equifax.com for general information. When contacting Equifax, please refer to file number *********.

P.O. Box 4000
Chester, PA 19016-4000

My Strategy.

1. Remember, DO NOT respond to form letters. It is used by the credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to grant themselves more time to act, which is not what you want but exactly what they want.

2: After 30 days from the day the credit reporting agency (e.g. Equifax) receives your letter, call them. Ask them about the status of your dispute. If they tell you no reinvestigation happened because they mailed you a request for more information, hang up immediately! Do not say one word more, just hang up the phone.

3: Wait another 5 days after your call (assuming you did step 2) and call them again. This is giving them another chance to respond correctly, if they DID do a reinvestigation.

4: If you haven’t gotten an updated credit report from them, you need to make some copies. Copy your certified mail receipt, your dispute letter you sent to Equifax, and the “3rd party agency” form letter. Send a VARIATION of the following letter (be sure not to copy this…they may treat it as a form letter and disregard it).

5: Send the copies and the letter you wrote by certified mail. Wait 16 days from the date they receive it (not when you mailed it). Afterward, get another copy of your credit report.

6: If the disputed items are still there, file a lawsuit against them for Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) violations, and any state laws you can find that are applicable. Just to add a little motivation for them to act, request punitive damages for emotional distress, embarassment, reduced income, and harassment, etc. Do not get ridiculous, check with your state limits. But, a few thousand isn’t too much to ask.

7: Wait for them to call and settle. Grab a little cash settlement (always nice) and get your disputed items deleted.

That’s it! It’s very easy… really!

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