I have come across this question quite a bit. The fact of the matter is that, there is a right way and a wrong way to dispute you negative credit accounts with the credit bureaus.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (F.C.R.A.), you have the right to dispute the completeness and inaccuracy of information in your file. When disputing your credit accounts with the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Transunion and Equifax), you must submit a dispute request in writing. Once your letter is received, the credit bureaus have to verify that your account with the original creditor. They have 30 days to do so before taking action.
When writing your credit account dispute letter(s) always hand write the letter. Let me repeat that - always hand write the letter. The reason being is when the credit bureaus see a type letter mailed from a fancy credit repair company or attorney's office they immediately respond to your request.
Most people say - hey wait a second, responding fast is good, right? Not in this case. You technically want a slower response typically more than 30 days. If a credit bureau cannot verify your disputed credit account within a 30 day period (with the original creditor - let's say for example Visa) then legally the credit bureaus have to remove the item from you credit report. Yes, remove it from your credit report.
If the letter is hand written (letter and address on envelope) the credit bureaus see a "regular Joe" trying to fix his/her credit report themselves. This is not given top priority by the bureaus protocol and of course this works in your favor.
FYI - Understand though if the verification is completed at a later time the credit bureaus have been known for adding the disputed accounts back onto your report.
Note 1: Do not Challenge more than one item per day. It is best to wait a few days between letters. But if you are in a hurry, never send more than one challenge out in a day. Remember, the idea here is to not draw unwanted attention to yourself.
Note 2: Do not challenge multiple items in one letter. Challenge only one item per letter. If you send a letter with multiple disputes, it will most likely grab the attention of somebody at the bureaus. One item per letter, always – this is crucial!
Also keep in mind that your letter must have an explanation and proof for your claim. If you don’t tell the bureaus why it is wrong, they will ignore or deny your dispute. Make sure that you do not take responsibility for the item.
If you need more free info on credit repair/dispute letters and how they should be structured before sending, feel free to visit:
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