rights how to remove judgment from credit bureau

How To Dispute Credit Report Errors
By Omar M. Omar, Thu Dec 8th

Your credit report--a type of consumer report--containsinformation about where you work and live and how you pay yourbills. It also may show whether you've been sued or arrested orhave filed for bankruptcy. Companies called consumer reportingagencies (CRAs) or credit bureaus compile and sell your creditreport to businesses. Because businesses use this information toevaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment,and other purposes allowed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act(FCRA), it's important that the information in your report iscomplete and accurate. Some financial advisors suggest that youperiodically review your credit report for inaccuracies oromissions. This could be especially important if you'reconsidering making a major purchase, such as buying a home.Checking in advance on the accuracy of information in yourcredit file could speed the credit-granting process. GettingYour Credit Report If you've been denied credit, insurance, oremployment because of information supplied by a CRA, the FCRAsays the company you applied to must give you the CRA's name,address, and telephone number. If you contact the agency for acopy of your report within 60 days of receiving a denial notice,the report is free. In addition, you're entitled to one freecopy of your report a year if you certify in writing that (1)you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, (2)you're on welfare, or (3) your report is inaccurate because offraud. Otherwise, a CRA may charge you up to $9.00 for a copy ofyour report. If you simply want a copy of your report, call theCRAs listed in the Yellow Pages under "credit" or "credit ratingand reporting." Call each credit bureau listed since more thanone agency may have a file on you, some with differentinformation. The three major national credit bureaus are:·Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241; (800)685-1111. ·Experian P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013; (888)EXPERIAN (397-3742). ·Trans Union, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA19022; (800) 916-8800. Correcting Errors

Under the FCRA, both the CRA and the organization that providedthe information to the CRA, such as a bank or credit cardcompany, have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate orincomplete information in your report. To protect all yourrights under the law, contact both the CRA and the informationprovider. First, tell the CRA in writing what information youbelieve is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) ofdocuments that support your position. In addition to providingyour complete name and address, your letter should clearlyidentify each item in your report you dispute, state the factsand explain why you dispute the information, and requestdeletion or correction. You may want to enclose a copy of yourreport with the items in question circled. Your letter may looksomething like the sample below. Send your letter by certifiedmail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the CRAreceived. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.CRAs must reinvestigate the items in question--usually within 30days--unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They alsomust forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute tothe information provider. After the information providerreceives notice of a dispute from the CRA, it must investigate,review all relevant information provided by the CRA, and reportthe results to the CRA. If the information provider finds thedisputed information to be inaccurate, it must notify allnationwide CRAs so they can correct this information in yourfile. l Disputed information that cannot be verified must bedeleted from your file. ·If your report contains erroneousinformation, the CRA must correct it. ·If an item is incomplete,the CRA must complete it. For example, if your file showed thatyou were late making payments, but failed to show that you wereno longer delinquent, the CRA must show that you're current. ·Ifyour file shows an account that belongs only to another person,the CRA must delete it. When the reinvestigation is complete,the CRA must give you the written results and a free copy ofyour report if the dispute results in a change. If an item ischanged or removed, the CRA cannot put the disputed informationback in your file unless the information provider verifies itsaccuracy and completeness, and the CRA

gives you a writtennotice that includes the name, address, and phone number of theprovider. Also, if you request, the CRA must send notices ofcorrections to anyone who received your report in the past sixmonths. Job applicants can have a corrected copy of their reportsent to anyone who received a copy during the past two years foremployment purposes. If a reinvestigation does not resolve yourdispute, ask the CRA to include your statement of the dispute inyour file and in future reports. Second, in addition to writingto the CRA, tell the creditor or other information provider inwriting that you dispute an item. Again, include copies (NOToriginals) of documents that support your position. Manyproviders specify an address for disputes. If the provider thenreports the item to any CRA, it must include a notice of yourdispute. In addition, if you are correct-that is, if thedisputed information is not accurate-the information providermay not use it again. Accurate Negative Information Whennegative information in your report is accurate, only thepassage of time can assure its removal. Accurate negativeinformation can generally stay on your report for 7 years. Thereare certain exceptions: ·Information about criminal convictionsmay be reported without any time limitation. ·Bankruptcyinformation may be reported for 10 years. ·Credit informationreported in response to an application for a job with a salaryof more than $75,000 has no time limit. ·Credit informationreported because of an application for more than $150,000 worthof credit or life insurance has no time limit. ·Informationabout a lawsuit or an unpaid judgment against you can bereported for seven years or until the statute of limitationsruns out, whichever is longer. Criminal convictions can bereported without any time limit. Adding Accounts to Your FileYour credit file may not reflect all your credit accounts.Although most national department store and all-purpose bankcredit card accounts will be included in your file, not allcreditors supply information to CRAs: Some travel,entertainment, gasoline card companies, local retailers, andcredit unions are among those creditors that don't. If you'vebeen told you were denied credit because of an "insufficientcredit file" or "no credit file" and you have accounts withcreditors that don't appear in your credit file, ask the CRA toadd this information to future reports. Although they are notrequired to do so, many CRAs will add verifiable accounts for afee. You should, however, understand that if these creditors donot report to the CRA on a regular basis, these added items willnot be updated in your file. Sample Dispute Letter

Date Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code ComplaintDepartment Name of Credit Reporting Agency Address City, State,Zip Code Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing to dispute thefollowing information in my file. The items I dispute are alsoencircled on the attached copy of the report I received.(Identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditorsor tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account,judgment, etc.) This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because(describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I amrequesting that the item be deleted (or request another specificchange) to correct the information. Enclosed are copies of (usethis sentence if applicable and describe any encloseddocumentation, such as payment records, court documents)supporting my position. Please reinvestigate this (these)matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soonas possible. Sincerely, Your name Enclosures: (List what you areenclosing) © Copyright - www.deleteuglyredit.co

About the author:Omar M. Omar is the owner of http://www.deleteuglycredit.com and- Author of "The Credit Repair Bible" book. The website isdedicated to providing credit consumers free advice on how torepair credit. It also provides credit consumers numerousinformation about their credit report, credit laws, and theirrights as a consumer.

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