If you are surfing the web looking for information about credit repair, you will find free credit repair letters at several sites, but you will also find that there are software programs with fill in the blank type letters. Whether you choose to pay for a sample letter for credit repair or use one of the free credit repair letters, the process is the same.

Before the letter writing can begin, you will need to obtain copies of your credit report. These can be viewed and printed at www.annualcreditreport.com. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you spell it correctly or you may end up at an impostor site. The FTC also has brochure which includes a sample letter for credit repair.

Once you have your credit reports, you will need to check them for inaccurate information and report the inaccuracies to the applicable credit bureau. This is also referred to as a dispute or disputed information. You can use the wording in this sample letter for credit repair or the wording in other free credit repair letters. The main thing to remember is to keep the letter unemotional. Simply state the facts.

Sample Letter for Credit Repair:

Todays Date

Some free credit repair letters suggest that you include your name and address at this point, others include it at the end. The FTC sample letter for credit repair suggests the use of the phrase complaint department. The use of that phrase, as well as where to put your name and address seems to be a personal choice.

Address of the Credit Bureau which is reporting the inaccurate information:

Equifax
PO Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Trans Union
PO Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

Experian
PO Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013

Re: Credit File Problem

To Whom It May Concern: (Dear Sir or Madam)

I recently reviewed a copy of the credit file your company maintains in my name. While doing this, I identified the following problem(s): (The sample letter for credit repair suggested by the FTC is written a little differently.)

I have enclosed the following documentation that supports my claim:

If you have any proof that the information is inaccurate, (statements, cancelled checks, the proof depends on the individual item) list it here and enclose a copy (not the original). If it is not possible to provide proof, for instance if you do not believe that you ever had an account with a listed company, simply state what information you are trying to correct and leave out the line about documentation.

Please investigate and correct this (these) problem(s) as quickly as possible and send a corrected copy of my credit report to my home address.

You may want to include a copy of the inaccurate credit report with the disputed information circled or highlighted. If you are disputing several items, you can use one letter for all or one letter for each. The credit bureaus may be less likely to consider a claim frivolous if you send one letter for each disputed item. They are not required to investigate disputes which they consider frivolous.

Examples of free credit repair letters close formally, using Sincerely and your signature.

If you do not receive a response from the credit bureau within 30 days, you can send a follow-up letter. A follow-up sample letter for credit repair follows. The date, greeting, closing and addresses would be the same. The body of the letter would be something like this:

On (applicable date), I contacted this bureau regarding the inaccurate information in my credit file. I have waited a reasonable amount of time and have received no reply regarding my dispute. Please correct this information immediately.

You may want to include a copy of the original letter, credit report and any documentation that you originally sent. If the credit bureaus do not respond to your requests; if you cannot achieve results using this or another form of free credit repair letters or a sample letter for credit repair included in software programs, contact an attorney, preferably one that specializes in credit repair issues.

For more information about the sample letter for credit repair, visit the Credit Repair Blog.