Negative listings crop up on a credit report when you miss payment due dates, fail to make payments or default on a loan or other line of credit. Bankrate.com also says that more than 70 percent of credit reports can contain errors serious enough to affect credit scores and a consumer's ability to obtain a loan. Depending on the type of negative listing you incur, these items can remain on your credit report for anywhere from two to 15 years. Unfortunately, a few negative listings can hamper a slew of positive ones, which can quickly damage your credit and drop your credit score. Successfully removing a negative listing can help boost a sagging credit score.
Step 1
Review the negative items on your credit report and mark any that seem questionable or that might be incorrect. If you are in doubt of a listing, mark it for research. You can always eliminate it as a potential dispute when you have done your own investigation.
Step 2
Locate the contact information for filing a credit report dispute. This is usually found on your credit report and will contain a mailing address and phone number to use when disputing a listing. The three main credit bureaus--Equifax, Experian and TransUnion--all have online methods of disputing a listing (see References). Using an online method is the fastest way to take care of disputes because you won't lose any days while your correspondence is in the mail.
Step 3
Fill out either the bureau's dispute form or write a form letter to the bureau. The dispute form will ask you for information regarding the listing, including the reasons you believe the listing is invalid and why it should be removed. It will ask you to provide evidence relevant to the dispute, including bills from the creditor, receipts, bank statements and anything else related to the item in question.
Step 4
Include in the dispute letter your name, Social Security number, the name of the agency you are writing to, a description of the listing in question and an itemized list of errors you have found with each disputed listing. Request that the credit bureau investigate your dispute according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Demand that the bureau provide you with a quick verdict, and request the bureau to enter your dispute letter into your credit record.
Step 5
Photocopy your credit report to send to the agency to help it identify the listing you want removed.
Step 6
Send your letter or dispute form by certified mail so you can confirm the credit bureau received your letter. Most credit bureaus also let you submit your letter via email or fax. The bureau will then contact the creditor who filed the listing in question and give the creditor 30 days to prove the validity of a disputed listing. Any information that cannot be confirmed will be amended or removed after this period.
Step 7
Wait 30 days after sending your dispute form or letter. During this time, you should receive an answer from the credit bureau. If you do not, send a demand letter--along with a photocopy of the first letter and a copy of the certified mail receipt--reminding the bureau that 30 days have passed and that the listing in question should be removed immediately.
Step 8
Contact the creditor and request documented proof of the listing's validity, if the bureau confirms the debt is valid. The creditor is legally required to provide proof to you within 30 days. The company will likely submit to you the exact documents and evidence it provided to the credit bureau. If the company responds by providing proof, your only option is to send that proof back to the credit bureau explaining why the evidence is invalid; provide your own supporting documents to make your case. Save the proof from the creditor as evidence or information in the event of a lawsuit.
Step 9
Order a new copy of your credit report 30 days after you receive a verdict on the listing. Credit bureaus are required to remove any invalid listings in that time frame, and they usually remove listings immediately after deeming them invalid. Keep any confirmation letters or correspondence you receive regarding these results until after the listing has been removed from your credit report. If the disputed information is still a part of your updated report, call the bureau or write a second letter demanding the listing be removed. Consider legal action if the listing is not removed--informing the bureau of such plans can lead to quicker resolution.
Step 10
Seek legal counsel if the credit bureau fails to remove the listing even after is it deemed invalid, or if the listing has been validated but you still believe there is a legitimate case for its inaccuracy and removal. If a creditor or credit bureau fails to provide the necessary information regarding the listing within 30 days of a written request, you are allowed to sue under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
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