Failure to Respond to Deletion/Correction
Letters
As a consumer you should take the time to review your credit report on
occasion. The reason you would want to do this is to check for credit
reporting accuracy. Negative remarks from billing errors reported by mistake
could result in bad credit. If a negative error appears on your credit
report it is your burden to dispute it. In order to dispute an untrue
report on your credit you must write letters to the creditor and the three
credit bureaus. The three credit bureaus are Experian formerly TRW, Equifax
and Trans Union. It is recommended that you send letters as opposed to
making telephone calls because with a letter you have written dated proof
of alerting all parties involved of your dispute. As a consumer you have
rights as set forth by a federal law. This law is known as the Fair Credit
Reporting Act and became effective in 1970. This Act was constituted to
protect consumers from fraudulent or erroneous credit reporting. According
to this law after you have sent a letter requesting negative information
be deleted or corrected on your credit report, the agencies you addressed
it to have 30 day to respond to your request. It is imperative you understand
you have credit rights. Distressingly enough to request a deletion or
correction is a time consuming process. The FRCA set forth time limits
to assist the consumer in resolving issues as quickly as possible. A good
credit rating is important and if your report has a bad rating due to
an error it is understandable you ant it resolved as quickly as possible.
So what do you do if you do not get a response from some or any of the
bureaus or creditors after 30 days? You are entitled to receive accurate
and complete information and it has to be corrected without charge to
you. The credit bureaus by law do not have the right to ignore your request
for investigation of errors on your credit report. If you have not received
a response it is suggested you write another letter. The information you
include in this letter is very important. Most important do not forget
to keep a copy or the original letter(s) and it would be a good idea to
send it certified. Make a note to date your original letter of dispute
and the follow up to no response for deletion o correction request. The
letter should contain the date and you would be wise to insert an RE:
at the top of the letter indication something to this effect: Failure
to respond to deletion correction letter. If you want you can capitalize
all the words and make them bold. This will only help in your case, as
the intent of your letter will be obvious. Address the letter to whom
it may concern, as you probably do not have the name of a direct contact
at the credit bureau. In the body of the letter include the date of the
original letter you sent to initiate investigation. Clearly point out
to them 30 days has expired from that date and items have not been removed
from your credit report nor have you received either acknowledgment of
the letter or any contact what so ever to the status of the investigation.
Enclose a copy of the original letter to this letter. Other important
factors to include in the body of this letter are as of (the date you
are sending follow up letter) you have failed to respond to my request,
indicate in this part of the letter a copy of the original letter is attached.
In the second paragraph of the body of the letter you state the law to
them. May consumers are ignorant of their rights so you need to let the
credit bureau know you are aware of them. In this portion you should include
that the law stipulates you must investigate within 30 days of r3eceiving
my letter and respond within five days of completing your investigation.
You have not followed the stipulations of the law. Let them know you feel
you are being slighted and they are not following rules set forth by the
federal government. Your good credit standing is important so you need
to be firm and insist you get treated fairly. You should also include
that you may or are suffering damage because you need to rely on accurate
credit reporting and a complete and true statement of your credit record.
Closes by saying you demand investigation on the error begin and an update
is done on your report as requested immediately. The last sentence of
the letter should indicate if these actions are not taken you will contact
the Federal Trade Commission. If they do not respond to this letter contacting
the Federal Trade Commission is exactly what you should do. End the letter
by writing thank you or sincerely and print or type your name, first and
last your address social security number work telephone, home telephone
or any other phone you van be contacted at. Double-check this information
so that it is accurate and you will leave them no excuse for not being
able to contact you.
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