Adding a statement of dispute to your credit report

Sometimes a dispute ends and you still don’t agree with the result. When that happens, federal law gives you the right to add a short statement to your credit file explaining your side.

What a statement of dispute is

A statement of dispute is a brief explanation, in your own words, of why you disagree with an item on your credit report. It goes into your file at the credit bureau and travels with the disputed information.

Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, if a bureau’s reinvestigation doesn’t resolve your dispute, you may file a brief statement of the dispute. The FTC describes the same right: you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports.

A statement doesn’t change the information itself. It adds your explanation alongside it.

When you might use one

A statement is an option after you’ve disputed and the outcome hasn’t settled things. Some situations where it can come up:

• The bureau finished its reinvestigation and kept the item as reported, and you still believe it’s wrong.
• The furnisher looked into your direct dispute and found the information accurate. The CFPB says you can then ask the bureaus to add a statement describing your dispute to your file.
• Information that was taken out of your file was later put back. Under the law, the bureau’s notice about that has to tell you about your right to add a statement disputing it.

The bureau’s notice of results also has to explain your right to add a statement. If you haven’t disputed yet, start with disputing an error with the credit bureaus.

How long it can be

The law lets a bureau limit your statement to 100 words if it gives you help writing a clear summary of the dispute. So plan on keeping it short.

Some ideas for writing it clearly:

• Name the account or item you’re disputing.
• Say plainly what you believe is wrong.
• Stick to facts you can back up with your records.
• Leave out anything that isn’t about the dispute.

Who sees your statement

Future reports

Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, unless the bureau has reasonable grounds to believe the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, any later report that includes the disputed information must note that you dispute it. It must also include your statement or an accurate summary of it. The CFPB says your statement will be shared with anyone who requests your report in the future.

People who already got your report

You can also ask the bureau to send your statement to people who recently received your report. At your request, the law says the bureau must notify anyone who got your report for employment purposes within the past 2 years, or for any other purpose within the past 6 months. The FTC notes that you may have to pay a fee for this.

Related protections for disputed information

A statement isn’t the only way a dispute can show up on your report. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c, when a bureau is notified that you dispute information, it must indicate that in each report that includes the information.

The FTC also explains that if a business that supplied the information keeps reporting an item you’ve disputed with it directly, it must tell the bureau about your dispute, and the bureau must include a notice that you dispute it. See disputing directly with the furnisher for more.

After you add a statement, check your report to make sure it appears. If you have a problem with how a bureau handled your dispute, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

The short version

• If a reinvestigation doesn’t resolve your dispute, you can add a brief statement to your file.
• A bureau can limit it to 100 words if it helps you write a clear summary.
• Later reports with the disputed information must note the dispute and include your statement or a summary.
• You can ask the bureau to send it to recent report recipients, which may involve a fee.
• A statement explains your side but doesn’t change accurate information.

Sources

• 15 U.S.C. 1681i: Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
• FTC: Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
• CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
• 15 U.S.C. 1681c: Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports

General information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and government guidance change, so check the sources above for the latest.