What is a 609 Letter ?
A 609 letter is a letter used to dispute errors or other inaccuracies off your credit report. Also, can be used to remove collections, derogatory accounts, Closed accounts, Charged Off Accounts, hard inquiries, and late payments. Removing these negative items will help to raise your credit score.
Section (609) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a Consumers Disclosure section which is to provide for the protection of consumers against false and erroneous reporting. This section of the FCRA places the burden upon the Credit Bureaus and the Creditor to prove an account is yours. To positively prove an account is yours, the creditor must provide the Credit Bureau a copy of the original creditor’s documentation (whatever you filled out and signed upon opening the account with the reporting creditor).
The FCRA was enacted by Congress to protect consumers from unverifiable accounts and information from being reported on your credit report.
Example: If you filed a suit against someone and you showed up in court with no proof against that person, what would the judge do – throw the case out of court! Without documentation, the Credit Bureaus have NO right to list your personal financial information on your credit report. They are required by law to verify and validate every single account on your report.
There are FIVE 609 letters. These letters are sent to the Credit Bureaus. You start with 609 letter #1…. You send the letter Certified mail, with a copy of your SS card and ID\DL… You can handwrite the entire letter or type it and only hand write the Name of the Account and the Account Numbers (Partial account numbers are fine).
Only dispute a maximum of 20 accounts at one time on one letter. Send each credit bureau their own letters. If you do not receive a response in 30 business days or the accounts you want removed are not removed, then proceed with 609
Letter #2. Follow the same pattern until you either get the accounts you want removed or you have sent out Letter #5. If after 609 Letter 5 and the Credit Bureaus do not remove the accounts you are disputing, file a complaint with the Better Business or the CFPB.
The 609 letters are just a template- please be creative and twerk them to fit your specific need.
609 letter example
There’s nothing proprietary about the format or wording of a 609 letter, although it does require your own documentation.
Here’s a sample of a typical 609 letter:
Dear Credit Bureau (Experian, TransUnion or Equifax),
I am exercising my right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 609, to request information regarding an item that is listed on my consumer credit report.
[List account names and account numbers]
As per section 609, I am entitled to see the source of the information, which is the original contract that contains my signature.
As proof of my identity, I have included copies of my birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, driver’s license, W-2, rental agreement and a cell phone bill. I have also included a copy of my credit report with the account I am requesting to have verified.
If you are unable to verify the account with the original contract, the information should be removed from my credit report within 30 days.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Address, Social Security Number, Date of Birth]
Where to Send Your 609 Letter
Send your 609 letter to each of the credit reporting agencies that are listing the account you need verified. Always send certified mail:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
