Preparing dispute letters can be challenging and fun. The DisputeSuite Software provides you with lots of template letters; however, our primary goal is to teach you how to draft your own letters. With a little practice it will be easy. Your end objective is to have an entire library of your own credit repair letters.
You will be preparing letters on behalf of your clients, and put THEIR information in the letter. The letters will appear as if the client is writing them. You must not include any of your information, including your name or any of your company’s information.
In fact, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows credit bureaus to ignore dispute letters if they think they are coming from a credit repair organization (CRO), on grounds that the letter is “frivolous or irrelevant.” Therefore, all letters are to appear as if they are coming from the clients directly. All letters should be typed because, printed letters are more readable and professional.
There is also a matter of psychology involved in the writing styles. Many credit repair experts say when disputing with credit bureaus you should enter your clients psyche and try to prepare the letter as your client would write it (this can be amusing). This may include purposeful misspellings, poor grammar, cute fonts, highlighting, and hand-written envelopes in a variety of ink colors.
The reason for doing this is to avoid the credit bureaus from claiming the dispute letter came from a credit repair organization. This writing style may be effective with credit bureaus; but when disputing with creditor and collection agencies, you should always appear as a consumer who knows their legal rights. For creditor and collection agencies, leave the purple ink pens in the drawer – business style writing is the best.
Regardless of who the letter is going to, make sure every dispute letter includes the following:
- Clients full name: first, middle and last and including any applicable suffixes (Jr., Sr., II, etc.)
- Clients complete mailing address
- Proof of current address
- Utility Bill (With Clients NAME!)
- Voter Registration Card
- Driver’s License (Must have current address)
- Clients date of birth (DOB)
- Clients Social Security number (this is necessary to access their credit report)
- The name and account number of the item(s) in question
- The specific reason for the disagreement with the disputed item
- The desired outcome of the dispute, such as removing the item from the credit reports or adjusting it to never late.