How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Card
Following this week’s news that the Kane County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged six Florida residents with possession of about 700 fraudulent credit cards and gift cards, you might be wondering what you can do if you suspect you’ve been a victim of credit card errors or fraud.
In that particular case, Sheriff’s Office officials said local victims already had been identified, and the Sheriff’s Office recommended that if you believe you have been a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft, you should report the information to your local law enforcement agency. More information on what to do if you think you are a victim of this type of a crime can be found at the U.S. Secret Service website and www.OnGuardOnline.gov.
We see notes all the time in local police reports regarding people who’ve had a bad charge on their credit card. Lo and behold, there’s an actual procedure for reporting such crimes, and we’re sharing it with Kane County residents as a service to you and to local departments.
Your credit report contains information about where you live, how you pay your bills, whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
How to order your free report
An amendment to the FCRA requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The three nationwide credit reporting companies have set up one website, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.
To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Correcting Errors
Under the FCRA, both the credit reporting company and the information provider (the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a credit reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights, contact the credit reporting company and the information provider.
Step One
To dispute, state the facts and explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. Send your letter by certified mail, “return receipt requested,” so you can document what the credit reporting company received. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies. You must provide to the credit reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify each item in your report.
Step Two
Tell the information provider in writing that you dispute an item in your credit report. Include copies of documents that support your position. If the provider continues to report the item you disputed to a credit reporting company, it must let the credit reporting company know about your dispute. And if you are correct the information provider must tell the credit reporting company to update or delete the item.
About Your File
Your credit file may not reflect all your credit accounts. Although most national department store and all-purpose bank credit card accounts will be included in your file, not all creditors supply information to credit reporting companies. Some local retailers, credit unions, travel, entertainment, and gasoline card companies are among the creditors that don’t.
When negative information in your report is accurate, only the passage of time can assure its removal. A credit reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years.
How to contact the three credit reporting agencies
- Experian — 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
- TransUnion — 1-800-916-8800, www.transunion.com
- Equifax — 1-800-685-1111, www.equifax.com
Where can I find out more about identity theft and protecting my identity?
For more information, visit www.consumerfinance.gov website or write to:
FTC Consumer Response Center
Room 130-B
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC, 20580
www.OnGuardOnline.gov gives practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against phishing and Internet fraud, how to secure your computer, and how to protect your personal information.
