What is a “609 Dispute Letter” and Does It Work?
Named after Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the “609 dispute letter” helps you get information about specific items on your credit report.
This FCRA is basically the rulebook that governs how credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax operate and what rights you have concerning the information they collect about you.
Section 609 of the FRCA specifically grants you the right to request and access information in your credit file, including:
All information credit bureaus use to generate your report; this means they have to provide you with all information they've got.
Details about where that information came from and how to contact them; you have the right to know who is reporting what about you.
A list of everyone (individuals, lenders, companies, etc.) who has accessed your credit report (for things like credit checks) in the last two years; this helps you see who's been looking at your credit history.
Names of individuals who have run soft inquiries in the last year
A summary of your rights regarding this data, including your right to dispute anything you believe is inaccurate.
Section 609 is all about transparency and your right to know what's in your credit file. It's fundamentally about disclosure rights, not dispute rights.
What a 609 Letter Actually Does (and What it Does Not)
Despite its common name, a "609 dispute letter" isn't really a “dispute” at all. It is simply a formal request for information about specific entries on your credit report.
When you send this letter to credit bureaus, you're essentially asking them to provide documentation that verifies the accuracy of specific items on your report.
Sending a 609 dispute letter does not automatically fix your credit report.
The main objective behind sending these letters is that if the credit bureau cannot provide proper verification of a negative item, they might remove it from your report. However, it's important to note that your actual right to dispute inaccurate information comes from Section 611 of the FCRA, not Section 609.
How to Write a 609 Letter
Do you intend to write a 609 letter as the first step towards cleaning up your credit report? There’s no standard template or format for drafting a 609 letter. Here's what your letter should include:
Personal Information: Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, current address, and Social Security Number. This information helps the credit bureau identify you and process your request.
Itemized Accounts: Clearly list each item you intend to dispute, including the account name and number.
Proof of Identity: Include copies of your identification documents, like a driver's license and Social Security card, to verify your identity.
Example of a 609 Letter
To,
[Credit Bureau Name]
Subject: Request for Credit File Information Under Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Pursuant to my rights under Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681g), I am writing to request a complete copy of all the information contained in my consumer credit file.
Specifically, and in accordance with Section 609, I kindly request that you provide the following for the account(s) listed below:
All information on file upon which you base my credit report
The details on who supplied the data for each listed account, including their name and contact information.
For your reference, I have included a copy of my credit report. I am particularly interested in receiving the source of the information for the following account(s):
[Account Name and Account Number, if applicable]
[Account Name and Account Number, if applicable]
[Add more accounts if needed]
Also, please also provide a list of all individuals or companies that have been furnished my credit report for purposes of a credit check or other authorized use, as mandated by Section 609 of the FCRA.
Finally, I request a summary of my rights with respect to the data being disclosed, including my right to dispute any information I consider inaccurate, as outlined in Section 609.
Please send the requested information to my current address listed below.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving the requested information within the timeframe stipulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Full Name]
[Your Current Address]
[Your Date of Birth]
[Your Social Security Number]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address (Optional)]
[Date]
Enclosure: Copies of my credit report, birth certificate, Social Security Card driving license
Will Writing a 609 Letter Automatically Trigger the Dispute Process?
No.
While you're entitled to information about various items listed on your credit report under Section 609, sending a "609 letter" isn't the same thing as directly disputing an error on your credit report.
It doesn't automatically trigger the formal dispute process that requires the credit bureaus to investigate and potentially remove inaccurate information.
Your Right to Dispute Errors: Section 611 is Key
Your right to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report comes from a different part of the FCRA: Section 611. This section outlines the specific procedures for when you believe something on your credit report is wrong.
Here’s the standard process for disputing errors:
Get your credit reports from all three major bureaus.
Carefully review each report and pinpoint any late payments, charge-offs, collections, or other negative items you believe are incorrect.
File a formal dispute with each credit bureau that has the error. You can usually do this online, by phone, or by mail.
Your dispute letter (or online submission) should clearly identify the inaccurate information, explain why you believe it's an error, and include any supporting documentation you have.
Make sure to include your name, address, phone number, date of birth, and the account numbers in question. Also, include a copy of your credit report with the disputed items highlighted.
The credit bureau has a limited time (usually 30 days, sometimes up to 45 if they need more info) to investigate your dispute. They will contact the source of the information (like the creditor) to verify its accuracy.
After having finished the investigation, they need to share their findings within five days.
If they find the information to be inaccurate or cannot verify it, they are required to remove it from your credit report.
If you disagree with their findings (for example, if the creditor confirms the information), you have the right to re-dispute and provide additional supporting documentation.
Final Words: Can a 609 Letter Help Fix Your Credit History?
The information you receive through a 609 request can be valuable.
Once you have identified the source of the derogatory item like a late payment, charge-off, possession, foreclosure, etc., you can dig deeper to understand why it's on your report.
You can gather evidence to support a potential dispute later. For instance, if credit bureaus can't readily provide the (source) information, it might hint at a potential inaccuracy.
If you have reasons to believe that inaccurate derogatory items are unfairly dragging your credit score down, it's a good idea to immediately start disputing the erroneous information.
You can do it yourself or hire a dedicated personal credit repair service.
At AMERICA CREDIT CARE, we have helped thousands of individuals remove inaccurate derogatory items. If you’d like to know more about our process and how we can help in your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out.
