If you have read too many blogs or talked with a lot of people about improving your credit score, you must have come across the term 609 dispute letter. Before filing a 609 Dispute Letter, you must know what it is and why it is important. Certain clarifications are needed to be done, and this article does the same. Let’s discuss more about it.
There is no 609 Dispute Letter anywhere in the FCRA.
It doesn’t exist.
Shocking right? But that’s actually true.
If you think a 609 dispute letter exists and can help you remove negative items from your list, then you are wrong. It is section 609, and the letter is 611 Dispute letter which helps the consumer file a dispute to bureaus and get rid of negative items.
Section 609 of FCRA directs or allows the consumer to have copies of their credit reports. After a thorough check, if the consumer finds negative items, with the help of 611 of the statute, the consumer can file a dispute and get the negative items off the list.
What is Section 609?
It relates to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which commands the consumer rights to information on credit reports. The section addresses the rights to request copies of credit reports and relative information. However, this section does not have anything to do with the dispute between the credit bureaus and the creditors.
So, which law or section allows one to file a dispute letter?
It is section 611 and its statute that allows the consumers to file a dispute letter. The section allows the consumers to file a dispute against unverifiable or incorrect information. So, if you find any incorrect information or negative information, you can get it off of your credit report. Thanks to the Section 611.
The 611 dispute letter is referred to as the 609 dispute letter because of the combination. To file a dispute, it is important first to have copies of the credit reports. Once you have those, you can then check the entries and dispute negative items.
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Why is 609 Dispute Letter Important?
The 609 dispute letter is one of the most effective and important steps to improve your credit score. We always mention using the 609 dispute letter as one of the first steps in our credit repair guides. The reason for this is if you have a negative item on your credit report, you can always get them off, but how is this effective?
The FCRA have directives which states if the items are unverifiable, they are to be removed from the credit reports. The problem is if the unverifiable items are not disputed, they will lead to low credit scores. This indirectly affects the passing of your loans and restricting your banking features.
The credit bureaus require to have verifiable proof such as receipts, signed copies, statements, or other modes of proofs. In any case, if there is no proof, the item is to be removed from the credit report.
In addition, if the entries have the wrong amount, the consumer can send the proof with the right and get the numbers correct.
This step has two advantages, the first advantage; it clarifies that you don’t have any lump sum amount of debt on you. Secondly, it pictures you in the right manner in front of the creditors such as banks and makes it easier for the loan to pass.
The Correct Way of Writing a 609 Dispute Letter
There is no correct way of writing a dispute letter; you can write it on a napkin and get the negative items disputed as per Experian. This may be true; however, it is not where you write a dispute letter; it is what you write and how you write it.
If there are several dispute letters or you don’t want to spend time writing a dispute letter, you can get DisputeBee. It is an automated dispute letter creator which allows you to write a common dispute letter to different credit bureaus.
What Documents You Will Need (4 Copies)
One copy of each will be attached to the letter and be sent to all three credit bureaus. In total, 3 copies with 3 letters are to be prepared.
Also read: How to Write a Dispute Letter to Creditor
Sample / Template of the 609 Dispute Letter
Here is the template/sample of the 609 dispute letter for credit bureaus. You can get more precise information about the general template or sample of dispute letter here.
[Your Name] [Your Address] [Phone Number] Date: Subject: Dispute of negative items as per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 609 Dear Credit Reporting Agency (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax), I am exercising my right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 609, to request information regarding an item that is listed on my consumer credit report: ABC Collection Agency, account number 0123456789. As per Section 609, I am entitled to see the source of the information, which is the original contract that contains my signature. My identifying information is as follows: Date of Birth: SSN: [If you have a lawyer, state that you have legal representation and provide that person’s contact information] As proof of my identity, I have included copies of my birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, driver’s license, W-2, rental agreement, and a cellphone bill. I have also included a copy of my credit report with the account I am requesting to have verified circled and highlighted. If you are unable to verify the account with the original contract, the information should be removed from my credit report within 30 days. Sincerely, [Signature]
Reference: Experian
Where to Send Dispute Letters?
Once the dispute letters are ready, the next step is to mail them. There are three credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. If the negative item is only specified by a single or two of the credit bureaus, you can only send these dispute letters to them. On the contrary, if all the three credit bureaus have listed the negative items, you can send these dispute letters to all the credit bureaus.
Additionally, you can also merge negative items of individual credit bureaus. If you do not know how to do so, you can check DisputeBee. They automatically merge all the selected negative items from individual credit bureaus into a single 609 dispute letter.
Mailing Addresses:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
These are important mails and it is required for you to get them back. So, send via verifiable mail and request return receipts. Mailing through the US post mail will be a cheaper option as low as $8 per mail.
Also read: DisputeBee vs Credit Repair Cloud | Which is the Best Credit Repair Software
Hire a Credit Repair Agency
A credit repair agency can help you reduce the cost involved, and besides, they are also professionals. There are several reasons why we would suggest a credit repair company and not just any other credit repair company. Many companies claim to get the work done but fail miserably, which is why we handpicked a few of the best ones.
The Credit People has helped thousands of people to fix their credit report. By far, it is one of the cheap and least expensive services with better results and dedicated professionals.
The perks of using The Credit People include free credit scores and credit reports when you opt for their services. These affordable credit restoration services can boost your credit score with an average of 53-187 credit points.
| In Business Since | Overall Score | Reputation |
| 1999 | 4.5/5 | 9.0/10 |
Ranked #1 in tackling inaccurate credit entries, Credit Saint is appreciated by almost every other consumer company. It has better plans and a simple process. The best part? You get a 90-day money-back guarantee.
There are pricing models designed as per the need of consumers and well suit their interests. This credit repair company also back #1 position in BBB credit rating and consumer affairs.
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| 2004 | 4.7/5 | 9/10 |
Disputes are ready in as quick as 72 hours, The Credit Fix guy is our ready-to-go credit repair company. It has a simple fee structure, and there is no SSN required to get started. A few of the perks include free ebooks even though you have not applied for the credit fix program.
The Credit Fix Guy uses a simple three-step process and is also known for affordability, convenience, and safety. You can find dozens of video reviews from their successful clients.
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| 2016 | 4.0 | 8.5/10 |
Serving in key financial areas ever since 1997, The Credit Firm has proven to be one of the best. With the support of professional attorneys, credit repair experts, financial guides, and dozens of other core members on the team, it has proven to be actionable in and around 50 states of America.
Credit Firm has a simple and straightforward process to fix the credit scores, making it one of the best. This service is best for those who are looking for better jobs and faster credit and loan approvals.
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| 2010 | 4.0 | 7/10 |
Conclusion
Section 609 is designed to protect the interests of consumers and get them the right to information. No doubt, credit repair companies work their best to improve credit scores, but it is important to know that your information can be disputed if wrong. Get your credit reports and monitor them, check for negative items, and get rid of such entries. This will make it easier for you to get a loan, be debt-free, and get instant approvals from the bank.
Moreover, a clean credit report will help you get dozens of other benefits from the bank. Write your dispute letter now and make it happen.