Dispute Letter
A written request to a credit bureau or data furnisher asking them to investigate and correct or remove inaccurate information on your credit report. The FCRA gives you the right to dispute, and bureaus must investigate within 30 days. The CFPB provides free dispute letter templates.
Related guides
- Full credit & FICO® glossary
Browse all defined terms by category.
- Credit Dispute
A formal challenge to information on your credit report that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. Under the FCRA, credit bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days and correct or remove items they cannot verify.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The US federal law that regulates how credit bureaus (Consumer Reporting Agencies) collect, use, and share your credit information. The FCRA gives you the right to see your credit report, dispute inaccuracies, and limits how long negative information can remain on your report.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dispute Letter
What does Dispute Letter mean?
A written request to a credit bureau or data furnisher asking them to investigate and correct or remove inaccurate information on your credit report. The FCRA gives you the right to dispute, and bureaus must investigate within 30 days. The CFPB provides free dispute letter templates.
Is Dispute Letter important for my FICO® score?
Understanding Dispute Letter helps you manage your credit profile more effectively, which in turn supports a stronger FICO® score.