What is a 609 dispute letter?
Key takeaways
- A 609 dispute letter is a formal way to request more information about the accounts on your credit report.
- Sending a 609 dispute letter may help you remove errors from your credit report.
- Legitimate accounts should stay on your credit report even if you send a dispute letter.
Disputing negative errors on your credit report is an important step in your credit repair journey. Whether it’s a paid-off loan still showing a balance or an account you don’t recognize, correcting errors can help you improve your credit.
While there are multiple strategies for disputing errors, one approach some people take is asking for more information to be able to verify negative marks on your credit . While the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) does not mention a “609 dispute letter”, the FCRA does give you the right to dispute errors on your credit reports. A letter is one of the ways to do that.
What is a 609 letter?
A 609 letter is a way to request is a way to verify the accuracy of the accounts listed on your credit report. While they’re sometimes called 609 dispute letters or credit dispute letters, a 609 letter isn’t actually a dispute. It’s a request for a copy of the information in your credit file.
These letters reportedly get their name from Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that regulates the credit reporting industry. While 609 dispute letters get their name from this section, dispute letters are actually covered under Section 611. Section 611 requires credit bureaus to fix or remove any inaccurate or unverifiable information.
Credit repair companies may recommend 609 letters to help you investigate things on your credit report that may be inaccurate. If the creditor cannot provide information to the credit bureau proving that you owe the debt, the credit bureau might remove the item, depending on the circumstance.
Examples of information that you might want to dispute with a 609 letter include:
- Accounts opened due to identity theft
- Late payments that were paid on time
- Missing payments
- Paid-off loans showing a balance
Some people suggest that if you ask the bureaus for proof you’ve agreed to pay the debt and they can’t produce it, they must remove the disputed item as unverifiable. However, a credit reporting agency not having certain documents such as copies of signed agreements doesn’t mean the debt is unverifiable. A 609 letter is a request for information, not a way to trick the system into thinking you don’t owe debt if they don’t have specific forms of proof.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act and consumer rights
The Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how credit bureaus can collect and share your information. The FCRA sets out how credit bureaus must disclose information to consumers.
Under the FCRA, credit bureaus are required to disclose all information in your credit file when you ask for it. That includes disclosing the sources of the information to help you address errors more effectively.
The FCRA also regulates other areas of credit. That includes requiring credit bureaus to disclose, upon request, who has accessed your credit report or run soft inquiries over the past year.
The FCRA gives consumers the right to get information about:
- Any businesses that have made soft inquiries on your credit over the past year.
- Anyone who has accessed your credit report in the past two years unless it was for an investigation.
- All of the information in your credit files, including the source of that information.
How to write a 609 letter
When writing a 609 letter, you’re asking the credit bureau to verify the accuracy of items listed on your credit report.
For example, does a creditor have a signed loan agreement or other documents proving that you agreed to the debt? If not, they may not be able to prove you owe it. Alternatively, you might use a 609 dispute letter to argue that an account on your credit report belongs to someone with a similar name.
Some agencies recommend filing a 609 dispute letter to ask the credit bureau to verify all accounts are accurate. It’s better to check your credit yourself and send a dispute for anything you suspect is inaccurate.
What to include with your 609 letter
To make sure you get the information you need, your letter should contain certain key elements. You need to include details about which credit report items you want more information on, as well as personal information, so the credit bureaus know it’s a valid request.
Include the following information in your letter:
- Personal information: Include your full name, current address, phone number and date of birth.
- Details of accounts: Note the account names and numbers of items you want verified.
- Proof of identification: Include a copy of your government-issued identification.
- Supporting documentation: If you’re filing a dispute, you want to include copies of documents that support your position. For example, if a paid-off loan shows as open with a balance remaining, include a copy of the final statement showing a zero balance.
- Your credit report: It may be helpful to include a copy of your credit report with the items in question circled or highlighted. This can help ensure clear communication about which item is being disputed.
- Statement of your rights under the FCRA: Credit bureaus already know your rights, but it doesn’t hurt to include a statement that you are asserting your rights under the FCRA to request the information in your credit profile
Some companies or websites sell specific 609 dispute letter templates. A paid-for template isn’t any better than one you can write for free. You can use any format as long as you include the necessary information.
How to send a 609 letter
When you’re ready to send your 609 letter to the credit bureaus, it’s a good idea to use certified mail. Certified mail requires a signature for delivery, and you can receive a return receipt for proof of delivery. While this method costs extra, it provides the peace of mind that your letter was received.
Additionally, the credit bureaus have limited time to act upon your request. With a certified letter and a return receipt, you know exactly when that timeframe starts, so you can follow up if necessary.
Use these mailing addresses to send letters to the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax Information Services LLCP.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30348
Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Consumer SolutionsP.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016
By calling the bureaus, consumers can also request the information they’d ask for with a 609. Here are the websites and phone numbers for each one:
- Equifax: 866-349-5191
- Experian: 888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 800-916-8800
What happens after you send a 609 letter
If you send a 609 letter, you should receive the requested information. If what you receive shows that the debt isn’t yours or the information is incorrect, you should file a dispute if the information is still on your credit report.
After the credit bureaus receive a dispute, they typically contact the creditor for more information. The credit bureau may share your letter and supporting documents to help with the account investigation. Using the information you provide and the information on your credit history, the creditors will review their files to determine whether they have accurate information.
Once the creditor has completed its investigation, it will share the results with the credit bureaus.
By law, credit bureaus must reply to a dispute within 30 days of receiving your request. Depending on the circumstances, they may receive a 15-day extension. If the creditor cannot verify the disputed account information by the deadline, the credit bureau will remove it from your credit report.
Limitations of a 609 letter
Some companies claim that a 609 dispute letter is a legal loophole that guarantees the credit bureaus will remove negative but accurate items from your credit report. The truth is that legitimate accounts will stay on your credit report even if you dispute them.
A 609 letter may also still need to be followed up by a traditional dispute letter. You could receive the information on your account and recognize something is inaccurate, but the credit bureau may not know that.
A 609, or a traditional dispute letter, will not remove negative items like late payments, bankruptcy or loan defaults from your credit report. Nor will it eliminate existing debt that you cannot pay or stop collection calls.
Alternative steps for credit repair
A credit dispute letter may help you correct errors on your credit report and improve your credit. However, depending on your financial situation, you may want to take other steps to repair your credit.
Some options to consider include:
- Communicating with your creditors: Your creditors may be willing to offer help on your credit repair journey. Many banks are willing to reduce interest rates for good customers, either temporarily or permanently, which could help you pay down your balances. Creditors may also agree to remove late payments from your credit report if you write a goodwill letter.
- Making all payments on time: Your payment history is the largest factor in your credit score. Consider setting up automatic payments to avoid late fees and negative marks on your credit report.
- Reducing your credit card balances: Keeping your credit card balances below 30 percent of your credit limit is another good step to building excellent credit. If you’re having trouble paying off your credit cards due to high interest rates, look into something like a debt consolidation loan or balance transfer credit card.
- Working with a credit repair company: Credit repair companies can help you identify errors on your credit report and file disputes with the credit bureaus. This adds additional costs when you can dispute errors for free, but it could be a good solution for people who have the funds and want someone to help them.
The bottom line
Section 609 of the FCRA gives you the right to request both the information in your credit file and the sources of that information. You can use the information you get to validate the accuracy of accounts listed on your credit report.
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