A Step-by-Step Checklist for Disputing a Collection on Your Report
A collection account on your credit report can show up with the wrong balance, the wrong dates, or the wrong person attached to it. […]
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What to Know About Settling a Collection Account Before You Act
Settling means paying less than the full balance to resolve a collection account — a lump sum the collector accepts as payment in full. […]
Questions to Ask About Your State’s Debt Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the deadline for a collector to sue you over a debt, and it is set by your state — […]
A Step-by-Step Checklist for Sending a Cease-and-Desist Letter
Under federal law, you can tell a debt collector to stop contacting you. It is called a cease-and-desist request, and it is one of […]
What to Know About Time-Barred Debt Before You Act
Not every old debt can be enforced in court. Every state sets a time limit — a statute of limitations — on how long […]
A Step-by-Step Checklist for Responding to a Debt Collector
Getting a call or letter from a debt collector is stressful, but your response in the first days and weeks shapes everything that follows. […]
What to Know About Debt Validation Notices Before You Act
When a debt collector first contacts you, federal law gives you the right to basic information about the debt before you pay a dollar […]
What to Know About Balance and Payment Reporting Errors Before You Act
The balance errors people find most The most common balance problems are straightforward: a paid-off account still showing a balance, a balance that never […]
Common Mistakes People Make With Personal Information Errors
Ignoring them as harmless Many people skip over a misspelled name or an old address they never lived at, focusing only on account errors. […]
A Step-by-Step Checklist for Comparing All Three Reports Side by Side
Step 1: pull all three on the same day Get your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports as close together in time as possible — […]
What to Know About Mixed Files Before You Dispute
What a mixed file is A mixed file happens when another person's account information lands on your credit report — usually because you share […]
Questions to Ask About Adding a Consumer Statement to Your File
What is a consumer statement? A consumer statement is a brief note — typically around 100 words — that you can add to your […]
What to Know About Freezing Your Reports Before You Dispute
What a freeze does and does not do A credit freeze — also called a security freeze — restricts access to your credit report, […]
Common Mistakes People Make With Mailing Disputes by Certified Mail
Sending to the wrong address Bureaus and furnishers have specific dispute addresses that differ from their general correspondence addresses. Mailing your dispute to the […]
A Step-by-Step Checklist for Following Up After a Dispute
Step 1: confirm the results arrived on time When the investigation window closes, verify you received the bureau's written results notice. If day 30 […]
What to Know About How Long Investigations Take Before You Wait
The standard 30-day clock When a bureau receives your dispute, it generally has 30 days to complete its investigation. That clock starts when the […]