Prior to contacting the credit reporting agency, you should contact your creditor first and then allow a little lead time before sending your dispute letter. By the time the dispute is verified, the creditor will have hopefully made the correction already.
You can also initiate an investigation from many online credit reports by just following the links provided and checking the disputed items as directed. Often times, there isn't a place for remarks so you'll simple check a multiple choice reason for each dispute. The process can often times be easier than drafting a dispute letter.
If changes aren't made and the credit reporting agency says the original information is accurate, it must provide you with a written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the person who made the report. If you still disagree, initiate a second investigation. Unfortunately, reporting agencies often try to sidestep that requirement, giving you standard, computer-generated information rather than the facts you need to find the person or department who made the negative report. If your attempts to correct the entry are unsuccessful, you can ask the reporting agency to insert a 100-character explanation next to it that explains your side of the story.
Remember bankruptcies remain on your credit report for ten years, while other types of entries are generally reported for seven years. If an account that was previously past due has been brought current, and has been either paid off or kept current for at least a year, the creditor might agree to an early deletion of the past due references. Additionally, you can use the tactic of disputing a negative item even if you believe it is accurate, but you'll have to follow your conscience on this one.
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