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Written By: Terry Price
How To Handle Rejected Credit Disputes
Your goal is to raise your credit score so you can enjoy lower interest loans, lower insurance premiums, a more affordable mortgage, and all the other benefits of good credit. You have already gotten copies of your credit report, and identified the negative items that are bringing down your credit rating. You have submitted forms to the credit reporting bureaus, disputing the negative information that they have been distributing in your credit report. And now, you have just gotten back rejections of your credit disputes. What should you do next? That is the focus of this article.
Don't be surprised that it isn't easy to erase the bad news from your credit report. It seems that they make it hard, on purpose. But with a little perseverance, you can be successful.
First, check the dispute letters that you had originally submitted. Were you concise and accurate in stating your case? The credit bureaus and lenders get a ton of dispute letters every week. In order to make sure your letter is actually read and understood, keep it short and to the point. Do not include details that will only confuse the situation.
Don't try to impress or scare them by quoting the law. You may be tempted to include legal wording in your dispute letters, particularly if you feel that they have violated the law. But a personal letter will be much more effective. Maybe an exceptional circumstance, like an illness or divorce, forced you to default on your debt - tell them that.
Did you include documentation with your letter? Always include anything that backs up your case. Do you have cancelled checks or bank statements that prove you made a disputed payment? Of course, never send the originals - make copies of all your documentation.
If your dispute letter was rejected by the credit bureau, be sure to correspond with the lender or organization that reported the negative item to the bureau. If you've ever contested a charge on your charge card, you know how they play this game. You ask the credit card company to delete a charge you think is wrong. The credit card company says they will suspend the charge while they investigate. They check with the merchant who recorded the charge, and - surprise! - the merchant says the charge was valid, and the credit card company re-instates it on your bill. Thanks for nothing. Well, you'll probably get a similar run-around when you contest items on your credit report. Try a different angles in your follow-up letter. You should try dealing with a different department in the lender organization to see if they are more sympathetic to your cause.
Persistence will pay off. If you deal with the credit bureaus and financial institutions in a professional, but firm way, you are more likely to be successful in your dispute. Remember, that although your dispute is with an organization, a person will be reading your letters. If you connect with them in a personal way, they are more likely to understand your position.
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