My husband and I recently obtained our credit reports. Much to our dismay, there are several accounts on his report that are either errors or were charged by his ex-wife without his knowledge. I need to know if anyone has a good dispute letter or a link to a site that provides a draft that will get some results. We are not sure how much damage she has done since she had access to his social security number and other personal information. Has anyone ever had success with disputing these sort of things? Thanks for the help!
2007-10-29 05:37:28 · 6 answers · asked by cbbcountess 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
You can find a sample for Verification of Debt letters and Dispute letters at the following yahoo group "don'tgetrippedoff" dedicated to consumer credit. Click on files section and download.
You can find out how to handle this situation also.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/dontgetrippedoff/
2007-10-29 06:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by Sgt Big Red 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Send disputes to the credit bureaus first. You don't need any special form letter. Just list the item and the reason -- keep it simple, like "not my debt".
The credit bureau will contact the creditor for verification. There really isn't much investigation at this point. If the creditor doesn't respond, the item is removed. If the credit says yes it's correct, it stays. You should get a reply back from the credit bureau within 45 days.
At that time, if any errors are still listed, send a validation letter, certified mail, return receipt, to the creditor. Deny that this is your debt and request proof that this is yours, including copies of contracts. Give them 30 days to respond.
If they don't respond, send a letter to the credit bureau with a copy of your request for validation, request removal as the creditor failed to validate the debt.
If they do respond and the contracts are not signed by you, dispute with the bureau on that basis and send the creditor a cease and desist letter indicating the debt is not yours.
If this is the ex using his credit, he will have to file a police report and put fraud alerts at all three credit bureaus.
As to sample letters, there are a lot of websites with samples but beware that some times being clear and concise is much better than threats and attempts at legalese. Some of the samples I've seen are really laughable.
2007-10-29 06:29:39 · answer #2 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Write a dispute letter through the mail only. Dispute them around christmas when everyone is on vacation and the companies are all backed up with the rush. They have 30 days to respond, and they are least likely to respond then.
There is actually a good dispute sample letter on free credit report website.
If these fees were incurred after Divorce-these things need to be removed.
If the creditors don't budge-I would sue her.
2007-10-29 05:45:47 · answer #3 · answered by _nicole_ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I disagree with some of Bdancer's answer.
I posted a few very good links below. These are commercial sites but this is not being offered as spam. I send good sites when they have good information.
What you need to do is follow a very specific procedure. The first link will detail what that is...follow it exactly.
The next link is the template of the one I use all of lthe time...and I guarantee you will get results. Just customize it as necessary. The key to this letter is to inform the creditor that you understand your rights, and if they don't follow the procedure in the FCRA you will sue them!
Note that filing a FCRA or FDCA lawsuit is fairly simple to do, but you MUST be sure you have followed all of the procedures. All letters must be sent certified mail/return receipt to prove they received them.
From this point on keep a very detailed log of who you talked to or sent letters to, and keep copies of everything. If you have several debts that are not accurate, you may have to follow through with a lawsuit.
Don't let that worry you! I look at it as winning the lottery! If you you are sure the info is wrong, or it's not your debt, you can't lose!
Contact me if you need more help.
2007-10-29 09:15:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually we just married 'in our older years' & as we began the process 2 purcase a home is when we found out a few months ago on my husbands credit reports that his ex-wife had made fraudulent charges on his, without him being aware thru the years, even though they've been divorced several years. So because of this, his credit score was low & we 1st had 2 go back 2 all 3 credit bureaus writing many letters back & forth telling them she fraudulently charged accts. in his name & they finally removed them. He now has a fraud report on each credit bureau & it will be on for 7 yrs., I believe. This has taken us several months working back & forth with the credit bureaus 2 get this corrected & 4 them 2 do their investigation. I hope this helps u in your situation. Now we see how very important it is for all of us 2 keep a tight check on each of our credit reports annually!! Hope this helps. We didn't find it helpful 2 call them but only by writing & keep copies of all your correspondence with them, as well, for your records!!
2007-10-29 05:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by Floydbobskeeper 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your husband and his ex-wife will have to settle and correct among themselves. Did he tell you the full stories? If he did, he need to contact the credit reporting agencies and dispute them accordingly.
If you have errors on your own, contact credit bureaus directly. The bureau will contact the credit grantor individually. The creditors will have 30 days to response, if not response; it will be removed by the bureaus.
2007-10-29 05:45:35 · answer #6 · answered by j g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋