Dispute letters

roybean · 06-16-2006, 08:03 PM

Dispute letters should be short and sweet...no long drawn out dialog, no quoting laws, or volunteering information.

You simply say:
Certified Mail # xxx 0000 1111 2222 3333 4444

Dear Sir or Madam,
In regard to the letter that I received on January 11th, 1999 dated January 5th, 1999 for acct#xyz123 in the amount of so and so; I am disputing this debt/bill/account in its entirety and it is an inconvenience for you to call me any where or any time.

Type your name
That's it!
Send it with return receipt and sit back for a spell.

Hedwig · 06-17-2006, 12:57 AM

That's very true. You're supposed to be the least sophisticated consumer. When you start quoting laws and things, the CA or JDB knows you're not the least sophisticated consumer. If you end up going to court, they'll try to convince the court not to apply the least sophisticated consumer standard to you.

And don't make it exactly like roybean's--make it your own words, simple, short, and sweet. Some people may ask for an accounting of the balance or say they don't recognize the account, but no more. I do believe that in some states you may have to use the word validation, either something like "I request validation of this debt" or "please send validation that this debt is mine." But absolutely nothing more than a short letter. And make sure you use the word inconvenient when you're talking about calls.

NEVER talk to them.

roybean · 06-17-2006, 09:59 AM

Like Tower said, someone wrote a DV in purple crayon that said "I dispute." I keep sayng that I am going to do that, but I haven't yet.

Hedwig · 06-17-2006, 12:26 PM

I read somewhere, I think on creditnet in the old days, that one of the credit repair organizations had used crayon to write a letter.

They put the customer's return address, and it was returned by the post office for some reason, so the customer got the letter, opened it to see what it was like, and got very upset. When they called the company they were told that they had found this to be effective.

If I can find the link pretty quickly I'll post it for info, but I've got a big paper to do.

Hedwig · 06-17-2006, 01:16 PM

This one doesn't say they used crayon, but it's a good discussion of dispute letters. Toward the end of the thread, someone from Lexington Law posts, and one of the points is that people who don't understand how the CRAs work gives too much information.

I'll still look for the crayon one.

Hedwig · 06-17-2006, 01:34 PM

I couldn't find the other one, but you get the idea from this.

psaysofavril · 02-27-2008, 03:23 PM

The crayon is so funny!

need2restore · 06-30-2008, 11:21 AM

Can you dispute a bill that is accurate? I'm so confussed about what you can dispute and what a credit report advocate and can and cannot remove.

mysearl · 07-02-2008, 11:21 AM

you can dispute anything, it's all in how you do it.

Enigma · 07-02-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by need2restore

Can you dispute a bill that is accurate? I'm so confussed about what you can dispute and what a credit report advocate and can and cannot remove.

Why would you dispute something that is accurate?

Pale Rider · 07-02-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedwig

This one doesn't say they used crayon, but it's a god discussion of dispute letters. Toward the end of the thread, someone from Lexington Law posts, and one of the points is that people who don't understand how the CRAs work gives too much information.

I'll still look for the crayon one.

I skimmed thru the thread, but the Lexington guy made some sense. I disputed some inquires once just to try to make a point based on the "popular opinion" floating around at the time. Put in all kinds of legal mumbo jumbo. Was the one and only time I got the "Your Rights About Using a Credit Repair Agency" form letter.

Turns out, after a little more research, the CRA's were right about the policy of reporting the inquries. Alot of people had been mis-reading part of the FCRA and trying to force the CRA's to delete where they had no obligation to do so. When I get some time, I will look over the thread more thoroughly. Thanks for digging it up Hedwig.

Pale Rider · 07-02-2008, 10:34 PM

Here is the famous Tower Rat DV sample letter.

TowerRat; What makes a good DV Letter

Another thing that gets neglected at times. Always understand what you are writing and sending in a dispute letter. A simple copy/paste of some of the form letters out on the net could have you end up in court. A C&D could be a disaster if not used properly. (Some have suggested it never be used, but I feel it has its usefullness if used properly.) Take a few days to research before you fire off that letter.

CtrlAltDelete · 07-03-2008, 06:08 AM

Second all the be brief advice in the post.

Before I found any of these sites or knew squat about Credit Repair I had an actual dispute with a cc company so I quit paying - it eventually went to a CA.

When the 1st CA letter arrived, I make a copy of the letter and hand wrote:

"Date

I dispute

SIGNATURE"

Then I mailed it CMRRR - about every 6 to 12 months a NEW CA would show up and I'd repeat the above process. Never heard back from any of them a second time. And they disapeared from my CRs.

jwillin · 07-28-2008, 09:00 AM

Why is it important for the CRAs not to know that you are an educated consumer? What's the difference if the letter has too much info or is short and to the point? My sister used a credit repair service and she was disappointed that the letters were so simple and not flowing with all the legalese etc. However, they got the job done and now she is able to apply for credit after being denied consistently for 5 years.

boopfan76 · 09-12-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedwig

If you end up going to court, they'll try to convince the court not to apply the least sophisticated consumer standard to you.

What is the least sophisticated consumer standard?

Amester333 · 11-05-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roybean

Dispute letters should be short and sweet...no long drawn out dialog, no quoting laws, or volunteering information.

You simply say:
Certified Mail # xxx 0000 1111 2222 3333 4444

Dear Sir or Madam,
In regard to the letter that I received on January 11th, 1999 dated January 5th, 1999 for acct#xyz123 in the amount of so and so; I am disputing this debt/bill/account in its entirety and it is an inconvenience for you to call me any where or any time.

Type your name
That's it!
Send it with return receipt and sit back for a spell.

I am sooo freakin glad I read this before I sent my dispute letter. I got a template letter form the a credit site.
I figured it was the best one to send...since they quote the law. Wow! I will re-do my letter for sure now! Thanks!!

psaysofavril · 11-08-2008, 08:45 PM

Thank you for the information. I had been wondering about this for quite a while. I may have to send out a letter or two.

roybean · 11-08-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boopfan76

What is the least sophisticated consumer standard?

There are numerous cases that define or speak to this in caselaw forum. Just do a search here on the board and a few dozen will pop up.

roybean · 11-08-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psaysofavril

Thank you for the information. I had been wondering about this for quite a while. I may have to send out a letter or two.

I am watching you and if you're here to post links to other sites there is going to be a problem and I'll ask you to put your shoes back on...understood?