Credit Reports: How to Add a Consumer Statement to Your Credit Report
If there is negative information on your credit report you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to have a consumer statement added to your credit report The purpose of this statement is to explain why you fell behind on your bills or refused to pay a bill you owed, etc. Whether your reason is that you suddenly lost your job or the creditor didn't perform services as agreed, the purpose of adding such a statement is damage control. If a prospective lender reads the statement, he might decide to grant you credit despite your poor credit rating.
Once the statement is added to your credit report, the credit bureau is required under a provision in the Fair Credit Reporting Act to give your consumer statement to anyone who obtains a copy of your credit report in the future.
It is important to note that most lenders these days base their credit decisions on your credit score rather than looking at your actual credit report. For this reason, the effectiveness of a consumer statement is somewhat limited these days. In addition, some credit experts claim that such a statement will actually lower your credit score. Therefore, it is better to add such a statement only if you've exhausted all other remedies. If you do add a statement, it will remain on your credit report for two or three years and then be deleted by the credit bureau.
Sample Credit Bureau Letter 1
Under section 611(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I am requesting the following consumer statement be inserted in my credit report exactly as I have written it:
"I dispute the fairness of the late payments being reported on the [name of creditor] account. These late payments are the fault of [name of creditor] that habitually mails my monthly statement to me after the date payment is due, if it bothers to mail me a statement at all. Because I do not receive my billing statement in time and sometimes not at all, I have had no choice but to make payment after the due date. For this reason, there are numerous late pays associated with this account that are no fault of mine."
Please send me an updated copy of my credit report once the above statement has been added to my credit report. Thank you very much.
Sample Credit Bureau Letter 2
Under section 611(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I am requesting the following consumer statement be inserted in my credit report exactly as I have written it:
"On [date] I was laid off from work while employed at [name of employer] due to [reason why laid off, e.g., company downsizing, etc.]. As a result, I fell behind paying my debts. I found employment on [date found employment] and began catching up paying my delinquent debts. My overall credit report shows an excellent payment history. If it weren't for losing my job, I would still have a good credit rating. I believe the late payments associated with the [name of creditor] account are not a true reflection of my creditworthiness."
Please send me an updated copy of my credit report once the above statement has been added to my credit report. Thank you very much.
Sample Credit Bureau Letter 3
Under section 611(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I am requesting the following consumer statement be inserted in my credit report exactly as I have written it:
"The [name of creditor] account being reported as a charge-off on my credit report is not mine. I have tried to resolve this dispute with the creditor directly numerous times, but have not been successful. The creditor insists on claiming that this account is mine, despite the fact that I was only 13 years old when this account was opened. I am asking any prospective lender reading my credit report to examine the date of my birth and the date this particular account was opened."
Please send me an updated copy of my credit report once the above statement has been added to my credit file. Thank you very much.
Sample Credit Bureau Letter 4
Under section 611(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I am requesting the following consumer statement be inserted in my credit report exactly as I have written it:
"The [name of creditor] account being reported as a collection account on my credit report arose out of a conflict with this creditor over [nonperformance of a promised service or non-delivery of a product]. I tried to resolve this dispute with [name of creditor] on numerous occasions, but was unsuccessful. Since I did not receive the [service or product], I refused to pay the bill."
Please send me an updated copy of my credit report once the above statement has been added. Thank you very much.
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