Dispute Errors. Restore Accuracy. Protect Your Middle Credit Score®.
If you’ve reviewed your credit report and discovered accounts, balances, or payment histories that don’t belong to you—or that have been reported incorrectly—the General Credit Bureau Dispute Letter is the first step toward restoring accuracy.
This letter is used to formally challenge any inaccurate or unverifiable item appearing on your report with Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.
At Middle Credit Score®, we believe consumers should have the power to repair their own credit files confidently and for free. That’s why we provide professionally written dispute letter examples, including this one, inside our Credit Dispute Letters Support Center.
🔍 When to Use a General Credit Bureau Dispute Letter
Use this letter when:
- You find accounts that don’t belong to you.
- Payment history or balances are reported incorrectly.
- Old or duplicate information still appears after being closed or settled.
- You’ve already corrected an error with the lender, but the bureau hasn’t updated your file.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus are legally required to investigate disputes within 30 days and correct or delete any information that cannot be verified. Sending this letter formally triggers that process and helps you build a paper trail proving you acted to correct your record.
💡 Why This Letter Matters
A single inaccuracy can drop your Middle Credit Score® by dozens of points—affecting loan approvals, interest rates, and even employment screenings.
By using this template, you:
- Initiate a legal investigation under federal law.
- Force bureaus to verify each item’s accuracy.
- Strengthen your documentation if you need to escalate to the CFPB later.
For best results, send your letter by certified mail with copies (never originals) of supporting evidence such as payment confirmations, statements, or identification. Keep all receipts and records in a safe place.
🧭 Step-By-Step: How to Send
- Review your latest credit reports from all three bureaus.
- Identify every error or questionable entry.
- Download and personalize the General Credit Bureau Dispute Letter below.
- Attach proof of your claim (statements, ID, utility bill, etc.).
- Mail separately to each credit bureau and wait for written confirmation.
Within 30–45 days, you should receive a response summarizing the results of their investigation and an updated copy of your credit report.
🔗 Take Control of Your Credit
Want to learn how to build stronger credit habits and understand how your Middle Credit Score® is calculated? Visit our
➡️ Middle Credit Score® Academy for free guides on credit improvement, budgeting, and financial literacy.
🧠 Bottom Line
The General Credit Bureau Dispute Letter is the foundation of your credit repair journey.
It empowers you to challenge mistakes, hold bureaus accountable, and take back control of your financial reputation—without paying third-party repair companies.
General Credit Bureau Dispute Letter:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
[Date]
Experian / Equifax / TransUnion
[Credit Bureau Address]
Re: Request for Investigation Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to dispute certain information appearing on my credit report that I believe is inaccurate or incomplete. I recently reviewed my report and identified one or more items that do not accurately reflect my credit history.
Specifically, the account listed as [Creditor Name, Account Number] shows [describe the issue, e.g., “late payment reported for May 2024”]. I have included copies of supporting documents verifying that this information is incorrect.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), I respectfully request that you conduct a full reinvestigation of these items and remove or correct any information that cannot be verified as accurate within 30 days. Please provide me with written confirmation once the investigation is complete.
Enclosed are copies of my identification (driver’s license, utility bill) and relevant account statements to support my claim.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
⚖️ Disclaimer
The sample letter provided above is for educational and informational purposes only. Middle Credit Score® does not guarantee specific results or credit report changes. Each credit bureau, creditor, or collection agency may have its own policies, and outcomes may vary. Consumers are encouraged to review the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and seek professional or legal advice if they need personalized assistance. Middle Credit Score® is not a credit repair company and does not perform credit repair services.
