How to write a credit dispute letter (free template)
You have the right to dispute inaccurate information for free. Here’s how to do it well.
By the BuffYourCredit teamUpdated November 5, 20269 min read
Your right to dispute
The Fair Credit Reporting Act lets you dispute inaccurate or incomplete information directly with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at no cost. Bureaus generally must investigate within 30 days.
What to include
- Your full name, address and date of birth.
- The specific item, with the creditor name and account number as it appears on the report.
- Why it’s wrong, in one or two plain sentences.
- What you want: removal or correction.
- Copies, never originals, of anything that supports your claim.
How to send it
Online disputes are fastest. Mail with tracking gives you a paper trail. Keep copies of everything and note the date you sent it.
BuffYourCredit’s free letter builder creates a pre-filled letter for each bureau and keeps responses in your vault, but you can always write one yourself using the points above.
This article is for education and isn’t financial or legal advice. Scoring models and lender practices vary.