Sample Letter To Credit Bureau To Remove Old Debt

Looking for a sample letter to credit bureau to remove old debt? If you have old debt that is impacting your credit score, you may be wondering how to remove it from your credit report. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to dispute old debt and get it removed from your credit file. In this blog post, we will provide a sample letter to help you get started. We will also discuss the best reasons to file a credit dispute and walk you through the process of filing a dispute online or by mail.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act’s allows for consumers to challenge questionable items that are on their credit reports. This gives you the opportunity to dispute any inaccurate information or negative items you believe to be incorrect.

These questionable items that you can dispute include:

• Late Payment
• Collection Account
• Tax Liens
• Judgements
• Foreclosures
• Bankruptcies
• Hard Inquiry
• Inaccurate Personal Information (Full Name, Address, Zipcode, Phone Number, Social Security Number)

Any of this negative information or inaccurate information that the major credit bureaus have on your credit report can be disputed and removed from your credit history. Removing these negative items can possibly lead to a credit score increase so it is worth trying.

How To Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report Yourself

The first step is to get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each major credit bureau:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

To access these credit reports you can go to each credit bureaus website or go to annualcreditreport.com to get all three.

Once you have your reports in front of you, go through them and look for any negative items that are outdated or incorrect. Make sure you take a very close look at each credit report and make a note of any inaccurate, duplicate or item that you don’t remember. Check dates, amounts and all details.

If you find any negative items that are inaccurate or outdated, you can file a credit dispute with the credit bureau to have them removed.

Best Reasons To File A Credit Dispute

There are some of the best reasons to file a credit dispute:

• Incorrect last payment date
• Account payment history is incorrect
• Incorrect dates
• The account was paid prior to collection
• Incorrect amount of outstanding debt
• The account does not belong to me
• Incorrect status
• Creditor agreed to delete account from credit report
• Account belongs to someone else with similar name
• The account is too old to be on the credit report (Statute of Limitations)

Please not that not all information will be the same on all three credit reports as different companies report to different credit reports. For example, when it comes to credit cards Chase reports to Equifax, while Wells Fargo reports to Experian and Capital One reports to Transunion.

For a full list of what tradelines report to which credit bureau click here.

Now that you have found items to dispute it’s time to file a dispute letter.

How To File A Credit Dispute Letter

The best way to dispute items from your credit report is to write a credit report dispute letter. But what type of letter works best?

There are several types of dispute letters to use and it’s important to know what letter to use for the right situation.

Credit Letters:

• Debt Validation Letter – Use this letter when you need a creditor to verify that you actually owe the debt in question.
• Hardship Letter – A hardship letter is typically used in conjunction with a debt settlement or repayment plan.
• Goodwill Letter – This type of letter is used to request removal of late payments, collections, and other negative items after you have demonstrated a history of good credit behavior
• Credit Report Dispute Letter – This type of credit dispute letter is used when you find errors or discrepancies on your credit report that you want to have removed.
• Validation Letter – A validation letter is used to request verification of a debt from the original creditor or collection agency
• Pay for Delete Letter – This type of letter is typically used in conjunction with a debt settlement offer.

For disputing incorrect information such as old debt you should use a Credit Report Dispute Letter.

Sample Letter To Credit Bureau To Remove Old Debt

This is a sample letter template that you can send to collection agencies, credit bureaus or creditors. This sample letter to credit bureau to remove old debt should have the following:

Full Name

Current Mailing Address

Date of Birth

Today’s Date

RE: Investigation Request to Delete Credit Inquiries

To whom it may concern,

In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 611 (15 U.S.C. § 1681I), I am practicing my right to challenge questionable information that I have found on my personal credit report. I do not recognize the information listed below and request that you investigate the source of these accounts and ascertain that the creditor had a permissible purpose, and is able to verify my complete file information including full name, address, date of birth and SSN#.

I am disputing the following items:

(Creditor Name, Account Number, Reason for Dispute )

(If the debt is past statute of limitations law for your state include the dates of debt)

I am allowing you 30 days to complete this investigation after which I authorize you to mail me my updated credit reports along with the investigation results.

Truly,

Full Name

Signature

The most important thing to remember when writing a dispute letter is to be clear, concise, and direct.

It’s a good idea to include any vital information that backs up your dispute for proof. With your letter you should include the following information:

• Copy of photo ID or Government-Issue Identification– for proof of identity (Driver’s License, Social Security Number, Military ID, Passport
• Proof of Residency– Use a utility bill, bank statement, rental agreement, mortgage statement to show proof of mailing address
• Supporting Documentation– include any items that support your dispute reason such as bank statements, payment receipts, account number, federal law, return receipts, communication from debt collection agency or creditor.
• Credit File – Include a copy of your credit reporting showing the error or negative information

Where To Send Your Dispute Letter?

Now that you have written your dispute letter and included all of your proof to delete the item you need to send it. You will need to mail this letter to each credit bureau, collection agency or creditor that reports the item you are wanting to dispute.

Major Credit Bureaus

Equifax

P.O. Box 740256

Atlanta GA 30374

Experian

P.O. Box 4500

Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion

Consumer Dispute Center

P.O. Box 2000

Chester, PA 19016

Creditors and Collection Agencies

If a creditor such as a bank, credit card company, mortgage lender, collection agency ect. is reporting this item you want to dispute you can find their address to mail this letter online or in your statements.

Review Your Results

By law, reporting agencies and lenders have 30 days to investigate disputes and mail you their results. If they in fact find that this item is an error they will confirm your claim and remove it from your credit report.

If they find the information to be accurate and correct the item will stay on your credit report. You can file an additional claim and provide more information to help your case the second time around. If after this attempt you can try more times or hire a credit repair service or credit repair software.

Hire A Credit Repair Service

If fixing your credit on your own isn’t working you can try hiring a credit repair service, using a credit repair software or take a credit repair course to take fixing your credit on your own up another notch.

Here are some of our recommended credit repair companies and credit repair software:

• Credit Saint – Is a top credit repair company that offers a 90-day money back guarantee.
• Lexington Law – Is one of the most popular credit repair companies that have lawyers to help with legal advice and about credit reporting laws that can help you dispute items
• Disputebee – Is a credit repair software that is less expensive than hiring a credit repair company and it’s great for do-it-yourselfers. It has automated dispute letters that you just print out and mail. This is the best route if you have inquires you need to dispute.
• Credit Repair Cloud – Is another credit repair software that offers free training so you can learn how to fix your own credit.
• The Credit Repair Blueprint Course – This is the most affordable credit repair method as it’s a one time payment where you get access to all credit knowledge and free dispute letters, how to open trade lines, increase credit lines, bank account bonuses and so much more.

What To Do If You Are Being Sued By A Collection Agency For Old Debt?

If you are being sued by a collection agency for old debt, you should immediately seek out legal assistance. An experienced attorney will be able to advise you of your rights and options, and help you create a defense against the claim. If the statute of limitations has expired on the debt, your attorney can use this as part of your defense.

You can also find out more information about debt collecting laws from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

What Is Statute Of Limitations?

The statute of limitations is the time limit a creditor has to collect on a debt. After this time period expires, the debt is considered “time-barred” and the creditor can no longer try to collect. The statute of limitations varies by state, but is typically between four and six years for most debts.

How Long Can A Debt Collector Pursue Old Debt?

Debt collectors have a limited amount of time to try to collect on old debt. In most cases, they can only pursue collection for up to seven years after the debt was first incurred. After that, the debt is considered time-barred and they can no longer try to collect.

Should You Pay Old Debts Past The Statute Of Limitations?

The Federal Trade Commission says that if you make a payment or agree to any payment arrangements , the old debt is revived. This means that the statute of limitations will b e reset and the debt collector can sue you to collect the entire amount of the debt, plus interest and fees. So if you’re going to try this route, be sure to get any agreement in writing before you make a payment.

While you may be legally off the hook for old debt that’s past the statute of limitations, that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. If you have unpaid debt that’s past the statute of limitations, your credit report will still show the debt as unpaid. This can drag down your credit score and make it harder to get approved for loans and new lines of credit.

What’s more, even if a debt is past the statute of limitations, the original creditor or a debt collector may still try to collect. If they’re successful, you’ll be legally obligated to pay the debt.

And finally, while unpaid debts eventually fall off your credit report, paid debts will stay on your report for up to seven years. After that, items will no longer be reported on your credit. So, even if you do eventually pay an old debt, it will still have a negative mark on your credit score for years to come.

Should You Pay A Debt?

For all these reasons, it’s generally not a good idea to wait out the statute of limitations on old debts. If you’re able to negotiate with the creditor or debt collector to have the debt removed from your credit report, that’s usually the best option.

Statute Of Limitations By State:

The following list is a guide of each state’s statute of limitations for debt. It’s important to check with your laws and jurisdiction if you are considering whether you own a debt as some laws may change.

ALABAMA:

Collection Of Debt: 6 years if stated liquidated account, 3 years open liquidated account

Collection of Rent – 6 years

Fraud – 2 years

Judgements – 20 years

ALASKA:

Collection Of Debt: 10 years

Collection of Rents: 10 years

Contract: 3 years

Fraud: 10 years

Judgements – 10 years

ARIZONA:

Collection Of Debt: 3 years

Collections Of Rents: –

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 4 years

ARKANSAS:

Collection of Debt: 3 years if not written or under seal

Collection of Rents: 3 years

Contract: Written- 5 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 10 years

CALIFORNIA:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: 4 years

Contract: Written- 4 years; Oral- 2 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 10 years

COLORADO:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contract: Written – 3 years; Oral – 3 years

Fraud: 1 year for actions under; 3 years

Judgements: NA

CONNECTICUT:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 20 years

DELAWARE:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 3 years; Oral – 3 years

Fraud: NA

Judgements: 5 years

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contract: Written- 4 years; 3 years simple contract

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 12 years

FLORIDA:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 5 years; Oral – 1 year

Fraud: 4 years

Judgments: 20 years domestic; 5 years foreign

GEORGIA:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 4 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgments: 5 years foreign

HAWAII:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 10 years court record; 6 years not of court record

IDAHO:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: 5 years

Contract: Written- 5 years; Oral- 4 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgments: 6 years

ILLINOIS:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 10 years; Oral- 5 years

Fraud: 5 years

Judgements: 20 years

INDIANA:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contract: Written- 10 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years

IOWA:

Collection of Debt: 10 years

Collection of Rent: 10 years

Contract: Written- 10 years; Oral- 5 years

Fraud: 5 years

Judgements: 20 years

KANSAS:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years; Written- 5 years

Contract: Written- 5 years; Oral – 3 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: NA

KENTUCKY:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: 15 years

Contract: Written- 15 years; Oral- 5 years

Fraud: 5 years

Judgements: 15 years

LOUISIANA:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contract: Written- 10 years; Oral 10 years

Fraud: 1 year

Judgements: 10 years

MAINE:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contract: 20 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years

MARYLAND:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contract: Written- 3 years; 12 years if under seal cts

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 12 years

MASSACHUSETTS:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contract: Written- 20 years; 6 years other

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 6 years

MICHIGAN:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 10 years court of record; 6 years not of record

MINNESOTA:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 10 years

MISSISSIPPI:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contract: Oral- 3 years

Judgements: 7 years

MISSOURI:

Collection of Debt: 10 years

Collection of Rent: 10 years

Contract: Written- 5 years; 10 years for payment of money or property

Fraud: 10 years

Judgements: 10 years

MONTANTA:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contract: Written- 8 years; Oral- 5 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 10 years

NEBRASKA:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 5 years; Oral – 4 years

Fraud: 4 years

Judgements: 5 years

NEVADA:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: 4 years

Contractions: Written- 6 years; Oral- 4 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 6 years

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 20 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 20 years

NEW JERSEY:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 16 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years

NEW MEXICO:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 4 years

Fraud: 4 years

Judgements: 14 years

NEW YORK:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years

NORTH CAROLINA:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: 3 years

Contracts: Written- 3 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 10 years

NORTH DAKOTA:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral-6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 10 years

OHIO:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written-8 years; Oral-6 years

Fraud: 4 years

Judgements: 21 years

OKLAHOMA:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: 5 years

Contracts: Written- 5 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 3 years

OREGON:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 1 year

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral-6 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 10 years

PENNSYLVANIA:

Collection of Debt: 2 years

Collection of Rent: 21 years

Contracts: Written- 20 years under seal: 4 years other

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 4 years

RHODE ISLAND:

Collection of Debt: 10 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 10 years; Sale of Goods- 4 years

Fraud: 10 years

Judgements: 20 years

SOUTH CAROLINA:

Collection of Debt: 3 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written – 20 years under seal; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 10 years

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years domestic; 10 years foreign

TENNESSEE:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contracts: 6 years

Fraud: NA

Judgements: 10 years

TEXAS:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: 4 years

Fraud: 4 years

Judgments: NA

UTAH:

Collection of Debt: 4 years

Collection of Rent: 4 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 4 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgments: 8 years

VERMONT:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written – 8 years under seal; 6 years other; 4 years sales

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 10 years court of record; 6 years not court of record

VIRGINIA:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 5 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 2 years

Judgements: 20 years; 10 years to enforce lien

WASHINGTON:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 3 years

Fraud: 3 years

Judgements: 10 years

WEST VIRGINIA:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: 5 years

Contracts: Written- 10 years; Oral- 5 years

Fraud: NA

Judgements: 10 years

WISCONSIN:

Collection of Debt: 6 years

Collection of Rent: 6 years

Contracts: Written- 6 years; Oral- 6 years

Fraud: 6 years

Judgements: 20 years; 6 years not court record

WYOMING:

Collection of Debt: 5 years

Collection of Rent: NA

Contracts: Written- 10 years; Oral – 8 years

Fraud: 4 years

Judgements: 5 years

Conclusion

The best way to remove old debt from your credit report is to file a dispute with the credit agency. You can also hire a credit repair service to help you with this process. It is important to know that you can only file a dispute for old debt if it is within the statute of limitations for your state. Otherwise, the debt will remain on your credit report.

If you need help removing old debt from your credit report, contact a credit repair service today. They can help you file a dispute and review the results to ensure that the old debt is removed from your credit report.

What are your thoughts on this process? Did this sample letter to credit bureau to remove old debt work? Have you had success in removing old debt from your credit report? Let us know in the comments below!

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