Credit dispute letter: a free sample you can copy

Updated October 13, 2026 · Checked against official sources

What goes in the letter

• Your full name, current address and date of birth, so they can find your file.
• The company name and the account number shown on your report for each item. The last four digits are enough.
• What is wrong, in one or two plain sentences.
• What you want: fix it or take it off.
• A list of the copies you are sending.

The bureaus' own forms also ask for your Social Security number to find your file. If you choose to include it, write it in by hand after you print. ZungiDill never asks for it.

Sample dispute letter

Copy this, fill in the parts in brackets and delete what you do not need.

[Your full name]
[Street address]
[City, State ZIP]
Date of birth: [month day, year]

[Today's date]

[Credit bureau name]
[Bureau mailing address]

Re: Dispute of information on my credit report

I am writing to dispute the information below. Each item is also circled on the attached copy of my report.

1. [Company name], account ending in [last four digits]
What is wrong: [For example: I never opened this account.]
What I want: Please delete this account from my report.

2. [Company name], account ending in [last four digits]
What is wrong: [For example: I paid on time in March. My bank statement is attached.]
What I want: Please remove the late payment.

Please investigate these items and correct or delete anything that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results in writing.

Enclosed:
Copy of my ID
Copy of a bill or bank statement showing my address
[Your proof for each item]

Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your printed name]

Where to mail it

Bureau	Mail disputes to	Online
Equifax	Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374	equifax.com
Experian	Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013	experian.com
TransUnion	TransUnion LLC Consumer Dispute Center P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016	transunion.com

Check the address on the bureau's website before you mail, in case it changed. Use certified mail with a return receipt so you can prove the day it arrived.

What proof to send

• A copy of your ID and a bill or statement that shows your address.
• Bank statements or receipts that show you paid on time.
• Letters from the lender that say the account is paid, closed or settled.
• An identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov if the account is not yours.

Send copies only. Never mail your originals.

What happens after you mail it

The bureau sends your dispute and your proof to the company that reported the item. It usually has 30 days to finish, and up to 45 if you send more information while it is checking. If the item is wrong, incomplete or cannot be verified, it has to be fixed or deleted.

When they finish, the bureau has five business days to send you the results in writing. If anything changed, you also get a free copy of your report. If they say it stays, see what to do next.

Common questions

Should I dispute online or by mail?

Both work. Online is faster. Mail gives you proof of what you sent and the day it arrived, which helps if you need to dispute again or file a complaint.

Do I need a letter for each credit bureau?

Yes. Each bureau keeps its own file, so send a letter to every bureau that shows the mistake.

Can I dispute more than one item in one letter?

Yes. List each item on its own with what is wrong with it and what you want done.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission: Disputing errors on your credit reports
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
3. Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681i: disputes

General information, not legal advice.