Note: Information provided by the Community Alliance of Tenants is for general educational use only.  It is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

CAT recommends requesting a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every six months. This is especially important if an old landlord has billed you or has threatened to bill you for damages after you have moved out. It is much easier to deal with errors on your credit report if they have been added recently.

You have the right to dispute mistakes on your credit report, and you also have the right to submit a statement (that will be included in the report) briefly explaining your side of the story for any negative charge listed.

To get a copy of your credit report, you can call or write to the following companies. Note that there is no fee if you are unemployed, a welfare recipient, a victim of fraud, or if you have been denied employment or credit in the last 60 days.  You are also entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the three companies.  You can request your free copies online at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ or by phone at 1-877-322-8228.

Some studies have shown that up to 70% of all credit reports contain inaccuracies, so get a copy and check it carefully!

• Equifax – cost is $10
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Phone: 1-800-685-1111

• TransUnion – cost is $10
PO Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Phone: 1-800-916-8800

• Experian – cost is $10
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
Phone: 1-888-397-3742

All Bureaus require the following information:

* Full name, including middle initial and generation if applicable (Jr, Sr, III, etc)
* Current address and previous addresses with zip codes for the past 2 years
* Social Security #
* Telephone number
* Signature
*Date of birth
* If married, spouse’s name
* If you have moved within the past six months, include a copy of driver’s license or utility bill showing your current address.

Below is a sample letter for disputing inaccurate information on your credit report. Along with your letter make sure you send a copy (not the one you received) of your credit report with the disputed items circled, as well as any information that supports your case (copies of canceled checks, move-out inventories from your landlord, etc.). Make and keep copies of everything you send, and send your dispute letter by certified mail.

Date
Your Name
Your SSN
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department
Name of Credit Reporting Agency
Address
City, State, Zip Code

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are also encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.
Chase VISA Acct: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxx:
This account is listed as being 30 days late. I have never been late on this account.
Universal Acct: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxx:
This account is listed as being 30 days late. I have never been late on this account.
In addition, there is a credit account on my report that has been inactive for more than 7 years. As you know, the FCRA states that all credit older than 7 years should be removed from my report. The following account should be removed:
Macy’s Acct: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxx
Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position.

I have also enclosed a copy of my driver’s license as proof of identity.

In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, please re-investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible. I understand that under the law, you have 30 days to complete the reinvestigation.

Sincerely,

Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)