This article includes a sample credit repair letter. Letters like these are sent to a credit bureau or credit reporting agency to report inaccuracies on your credit report. If you are surfing the web looking for information about credit repair, you will find free credit repair sample letters at several sites, but you will also find that there are software programs with fill in the blank type letters. Whether you choose to pay for a sample credit repair letter or use a free one, the process is the same.

A credit repair sample letter is actually one of several steps in the whole credit repair process. Before the letter writing can begin, you will need to obtain copies of your credit report. A recent law has made it easier for consumers to access their credit reports. There is a new website, new phone numbers and addresses for the credit bureaus. All of this information and a sample credit repair letter is available at the official website of the Federal Trade Commission.

Once you have your credit reports, you will need to check them for inaccurate information and report the inaccuracies to the applicable credit bureau. This is also referred to as a dispute or disputed information. Whether you use the exact wording shown here or the wording used in another credit repair sample letter, the important thing is to be unemotional and state the facts.

Sample Credit Repair Letter:

Todays Date

Some sample credit repair letters suggest that you include your name and address at this point, others include it at the end. The FTCs credit repair sample letter suggests the use of the phrase complaint department. The use of that phrase, as well as where to put your name and address seems to be a personal choice.

Address of the Credit Bureau which is reporting the inaccurate information:

Equifax
PO Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Trans Union
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

Experian
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013

Re: Credit File Problem

To Whom It May Concern: (Dear Sir or Madam)

I recently reviewed a copy of the credit file your company maintains in my name. While doing this, I identified the following problem(s): (The sample credit repair letter suggested by the FTC is written a little differently.)

I have enclosed the following documentation that supports my claim:

If you have any proof that the information is inaccurate, (statements, cancelled checks, the proof depends on the individual item) list it here and enclose a copy (not the original). If it is not possible to provide proof, for instance if you do not believe that you ever had an account with a listed company, simply state what information you are trying to correct and leave out the line about documentation.

Please investigate and correct this (these) problem(s) as quickly as possible and send a corrected copy of my credit report to my home address.

You may want to include a copy of the inaccurate credit report with the disputed information circled or highlighted. If you are disputing several items, you can use one letter for all or one letter for each. The credit bureaus may be less likely to consider a claim frivolous if you send one letter for each disputed item. They are not required to investigate disputes which they consider frivolous.

A sample credit repair letter closes formally, using Sincerely and your signature.

If you do not receive a response from the credit bureau within 30 days, you can send a follow-up letter. A follow-up credit repair sample letter follows. The date, greeting, closing and addresses would be the same. The body of the letter would be something like this:

On (applicable date), I contacted this bureau regarding the inaccurate information in my credit file. I have waited a reasonable amount of time and have received no reply regarding my dispute. Please correct this information immediately.

You may want to include a copy of the original letter, credit report and any documentation that you originally sent. If the credit bureaus do not respond to your requests; if you cannot achieve results using this or another form of credit repair sample letter, contact an attorney, preferably one that specializes in credit repair issues. For more information about the sample credit repair letter, visit the Credit Repair Blog.