Cleaning up Nasty Errors on Your Credit Report
Contributed by Roland Head
You've found an error on your credit report
In a human world errors occur, it's just difficult when they occur to you on your credit report. Do not panic. These errors can be fixed with diligence and persistence. You can probably handle the situation on your own without hiring a debt counselor or agency. Basically, you just have to have your facts straight about what items on your credit report that you are disputing.
Steps to cleaning up a credit report
First, make a copy of your credit report and check off the items you are disputing such as a late payment, loan default, etc.
Next, gather your proof against these errors. You might have bank statements, creditor receipts, letters, or any other papers that prove your side.
Create a document that puts these two contended claims side by side. That is, if you have a late payment note on your credit report and you have paperwork proving that you paid on time, get these two items side by side on a document. Make a copy and keep the original.
Send the copy to the reporting bureau and state that you request an investigation on the item in question. You might want to send this request certified mail with a return receipt for proof of delivery.
Send a second copy to the creditor in question. Tell the creditor you have a dispute with information that is on your credit report. Ask for correspondence back to you on how the creditor will correct the matter. Because you have offered proof, the creditor has no alternative.
When you receive the creditor's letter stating a mistake has been made, send it to the reporting bureau and ask that your credit report be amended.
