Typical Error

The usual cause of the error is in the data that was entered in the first place. Explaining this to the three credit bureaus is quite difficult. There are phone trees to contend with, and customer service representatives who are trying to close their open cases on their desks.

What to do?
You have to find a way out of the automated electronic checking system. Instead, you must repeatedly request what’s called an “adequate investigation.” How? Tell them over the phone. Often. Send them lots of documents that corroborate your point of view, with an accompanying letter insisting on an “adequate investigation.” When you send the documents, send them registered mail, return receipt requested. When you talk on the phone, keep a phone log including the date and time of your call, who you spoke with, what was discussed, and what the credit bureau representative said would happen.  Eventually, your efforts will pay off. Once you’ve won with one credit bureau, you will have to tackle the other two bureaus. Sometimes it is easier once you have one win under your belt, which you can show to the other two.

Omissions
According to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) which was signed in December 2003, you have the legal right to add your own information, in your own words, onto your credit report. You also have the right to include your own note on your report about disputed information they are not removing from the report. The credit bureaus might balk, but it is your right. Don’t give in!

On this website, we provide a sample letter you can use to write to the credit bureaus in order to add information to your credit report. There is also a sample letter to correct errors on your credit report. Send one or both to the three bureaus by registered mail, return receipt requested.

The Three Major Credit Bureaus

Equifax Credit Information Services	Experian	TransUnion
PO Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374 1.800.685.1111 www.equifax.com	PO Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013 1.888.397.3742 www.experian.com	PO Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022 1.800.888.4213 www.tuc.com

The websites of all three credit bureaus urge you to report disputes and missing information on line. We strongly urge you to do it via US mail by registered mail, return receipt!

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