This template may be used to send disputes to the credit-reporting companies. Note that you should always be friendly and respectful in these letters — the reader will be an employee who receives hundreds of letters a day. Rudeness will only make them care less about you, and it won't help your case in court. Finally, keep your letters extremely brief and on topic. If you want to provide a long explanation, do so with a separate attachment.

Include a photocopy of your credit report and any supporting materials — never send originals. Mark them with identifying information (like “Exhibit A” and “Item #1”) to make the process as easy as possible for the credit-reporting company, and to protect your rights.

[DATE]

TO: [CREDIT-REPORTING COMPANY]

[ADDRESS OF CREDIT-REPORTING COMPANY]

Greetings:

Please correct the following errors on my credit report (a photocopy of the report, marked “Exhibit A,” is enclosed with this letter). I'm disputing the following items:

Account: ABC Credit Card Company, account #123456 (Exhibit A, Item #1) Reason for dispute: I never paid late. Please remove the late-payment notation. Note: Exhibit B shows on-time payments for every month.

Account: Big Bank Auto Loan, account #987654 (Exhibit A, Item #2) Reason for dispute: This is not my account. Please do not report it with my history. Note: I do not live in Hawaii, and I never have.

Please investigate and correct these items promptly. Contact me in writing at the address below if you need further information from me. Please send a copy of these disputed items to the creditors listed above. If you will not send them this information, please inform me of that promptly.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

[YOUR SIGNATURE HERE]

[YOUR FULL NAME]

[YOUR MAILING ADDRESS]

[YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER]

[YOUR DATE OF BIRTH]

[YOUR PREVIOUS ADDRESSES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS]