Information on Credit Letter of Deletion
What is a letter of deletion? Can it be used to remove a negative item on your credit report?
What is a letter of deletion? Can it be used to remove a negative item on your credit report?
A letter of deletion is a request to remove inaccurate marks from your credit report. I have included a sample letter of deletion, below, along with instructions on how to submit it online for free.
No one can legally remove accurate and timely negative information from a credit report. The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. If you paid the accounts in full and as agreed, then you can try to get them removed. If you have an unpaid debt and want to remove its history from your credit report, you first have to bring the debt down to a $0 balance, by paying it off or by reaching a settlement with your creditor.
Following up with the credit bureaus might be a time consuming proposition, depending on how many items you have that need to be removed. In order to get these items removed from your credit report you have two options:
Removing Inaccurate Reports on Your Own
Do it yourself. The Federal Trade Commission provides extensive information and self help resources that are available at FTC.gov. You will first need to obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. You can get free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, or through the mail at: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Check your reports for the action items. Keep in mind all the bureaus now have provisions to dispute items online, but in most cases you will need a copy of the respective report and other information to do so. Once you are ready, contact each of the three consumer credit reporting agencies, commonly called credit bureaus, using the information provided below:
| Equifax | Experian | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|
| 800-685-1111 | 888-397-3742 | 800-916-8800 |
| Equifax.com | Experian.com | TransUnion.com |
| File a credit dispute online at Equifax | File a credit dispute online at Experian | File a credit dispute online at TransUnion |
Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Your letter may look something like:
| FTC Sample Letter of Deletion |
|---|
| Date Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Complaint Department Name of Company Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received. This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information. Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible. Sincerely, Your name Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing) |
Once you resolve the issue with the credit bureaus, tell the creditor or other information provider, in writing, that you dispute an item. Be sure to include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider reports the item to a consumer reporting company, it must include a notice of your dispute. And if you are correct — that is, if the information is found to be inaccurate — the information provider may not report it again.
Using Professional Credit Repair Services
Some people pay for the services of a credit repair firm. There is nothing a credit repair firm can do for you that you can't do for yourself, for free. Nevertheless, some people prefer to pay for professional help, to avoid having to do the work themselves. It is important to know, however, that even if you hire a credit repair firm, you have to devote time and effort to make the process effective.
The federal government strongly cautions anyone considering hiring a professional credit repair firm.
By law, credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the "Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law" before you sign a contract. They also must give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations. Read these documents before you sign anything. The law contains specific protections for you. For example, a credit repair company cannot:
- Make false claims about their services
- Charge you until they have completed the promised services
- Perform any services until they have your signature on a written contract and have completed a three-day waiting period.
Your contract must specify:
- The payment terms for services, including their total cost
- A detailed description of the services to be performed
- How long it will take to achieve the results
- Any guarantees they offer
- The company’s name and business address
I hope the information provided helps you Find. Learn. Save.
Best,
Bill