What Is a 609 Dispute Letter?
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A 609 dispute letter is a way to request that credit bureaus, such as Experian, remove erroneous information from your credit report.
The letter stems from the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which was enacted in 1970 and updated in 2023. The FCRA was designed to promote the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of consumer information contained in the files of consumer-reporting agencies.
Section 609 of the FCRA spells out your right to access all information that credit reporting agencies, such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, collect. While Section 609 doesnโt explicitly explain your right to dispute incorrect information, it does detail your right to access a copy of all the information relating to your credit file.
Section 609 states that credit agencies must release the following:
The FCRA spells out consumersโ rights to dispute incorrect information in their credit reports. However, the information about a dispute notification is in Section 611 of the FCRA, versus Section 609.
Sometimes potential employers may request your financial information from a credit bureau. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), while employers can request the information, they cannot discriminate against potential hires due to their financial situation.
You can obtain a free credit report from Experian every 30 days. You also get a free copy every 12 months from AnnualCreditReport.com, a site jointly operated by the three major U.S. credit reporting agencies.
If youโre having trouble understanding your credit score or report, review the free information provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). There is also myFICO.com, a paid service which monitors your credit scores, helps explain how the credit bureaus work, and how to deal with identity theft.
By sending a 609 dispute letter to a credit bureau, and perhaps to a relevant vendor, you can set the record straight about inaccurate information in your credit report. The idea is that the credit bureau will investigate and correct any erroneous information included in your report.
A 609 letter wonโt help if your credit report correctly shows that you are late on a payment. In that case, the delinquency will remain on your report.
Yes, a 609 dispute letter can help if you have a legitimate complaint. However, you must provide the details and documentation to prove your point.
The purpose of a 609 dispute letter is to correct erroneous information on your credit report. It is not a loophole you can use to remove factual information, such as a late payment, that has impacted your credit history negatively.
A 609 dispute letter must spell out the who, what, where, when, why, and how of your dispute. Make sure to clearly state the facts and back them up with any documentation, such as receipts, emails, texts, letters, and relevant credit reports, before you begin.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, your letter should include:
The FTC provides a sample letter on its website to help you craft yours.
Also, itโs very important to send your letter by certified U.S. mail and pay for the โreturn receiptโ service. This ensures you have a record that the letter was sent and that the parties have received it.
The FTC recommends that you contact the credit bureau and the business that reported the incorrect information, and tell them in writing that you want to dispute it. Save copies of all your documentation and correspondence with both the credit bureau and the business in question.
If you are concerned about an error in your credit report, the 609 dispute letter is a way to deal with it. Be sure to gather your facts, including your relevant credit reports, and lay out your case in the letter. Include back-up documents and send the letter by certified mail to the credit agency and any business involved.
The purpose of a 609 letter is to dispute incorrect, often harmful, information on your credit report. It asks that a credit bureau remove erroneous information from your credit report.
A 609 dispute letter must include your complete name and address, copies of the relevant credit reports, the charges you are disputing, and letters, emails, financial statements, or texts substantiating your claims.
Once youโve composed your letter and gathered the relevant documents, send them all to the credit bureau and relevant merchants by certified U.S. mail with a return receipt requested. That way, you have proof that you sent the letter, and, eventually, through the returned receipt, that all parties have received it.
If an erroneous charge-off appears on your credit report, you can dispute it using a 609 letter. Aggrieved consumers can request that a credit bureau remove false or unsubstantiated charge-offs from their credit reports.
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