Credit File Dispute Protocols

If a credit file contains inaccurate or fraudulent entries (such as a misreported payment status or unauthorized inquiries), you must initiate formal disputes under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

To execute a dispute effectively:

1.

Review the FTC’s statutory guidelines on credit file disputes.

2.

File separate, formal disputes with each CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) showing the error. Submitting disputes via certified mail with return receipt requested provides a legally binding paper trail.

(a)

Equifax Information Services, LLC: P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374

(b)

Experian Information Solutions, Inc.: P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013

(c)

TransUnion, LLC: P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

3.

Your dispute package must include:

(a)

Your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.

(b)

Your current residential address and address history for the past two years.

(c)

A copy of a government-issued identification document and a recent utility bill or bank statement as proof of residency.

(d)

A detailed letter identifying the specific incorrect item, the factual basis for the dispute, and copies of supporting documentation (such as payment receipts or account closure letters).

The package necessarily contains everything an identity thief wants. Send it by certified mail only, never email, and redact the SSN to its last four digits on supporting documents where the bureau’s instructions permit.