Fill in the highlighted parts. Name the exact month and give the exact reason. Attach proof if you have it; the letter still works without it, because the lender has to verify from its own records.
[Your full name] [Your current address] [City, State ZIP] Date of birth: [MM/DD/YYYY] SSN (last four): XXX-XX-[1234] [Date] [Bureau dispute address — or the lender's credit reporting dispute address from your statement or the lender's website] Re: Dispute of inaccurate payment history under FCRA §611 [for a lender: §623(a)(8)] To whom it may concern: I am disputing late payment information reported on the following account. The payment history is inaccurate for the reason below. Please investigate and correct it within 30 days as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Account Creditor: [Name exactly as shown] Account number: [As shown on the report] Month(s) reported late: [e.g., March 2025, reported 30 days late] Reason for dispute [Pick one and be specific. Examples: — The payment due [March 15, 2025] was made on [March 12, 2025] and posted before the due date. A copy of my bank statement showing the payment is enclosed. The account was never 30 days past due. — The payment due [March 15, 2025] was received on [March 27, 2025], twelve days after the due date. A payment fewer than 30 days late may not be reported as a 30-day delinquency. — This account was in an approved [forbearance / deferment / hardship plan] from [date] to [date] (approval enclosed). Under the terms of that accommodation, and under the CARES Act where applicable, no payment was due and the account may not be reported delinquent for that period. — The same missed payment in [March 2025] is reported as both a 30-day and a 60-day late. Only one delinquency occurred and the account was brought current on [date]. — This account was transferred from [old servicer] to [new servicer] in [month/year]. Both servicers report late payments for [months], duplicating a single history. — This late payment is dated [month/year], more than seven years ago, and must be removed under FCRA §605(a).] Please correct the payment history for the month(s) listed, notify the other consumer reporting agencies of the correction, and send me written results and a free updated copy of my report. Enclosed: copy of my government-issued photo ID; copy of proof of my current address; [bank statement / payment confirmation / forbearance approval]. Sincerely, [Signature] [Printed name]
How to send it
- Send to each bureau showing the late, certified mail with return receipt.
- Send a copy, addressed to the lender's credit reporting dispute address (on your statement or the lender's site under "credit bureau disputes"), as a direct dispute.
- Expect results in 30 days from the bureau, sometimes faster from the lender. When the lender corrects it, all three bureaus update within one or two cycles.
The software finds lates that don't match across bureaus, lates on accounts that were closed or in forbearance, and lates past seven years, and writes this letter with the real dates. Start for $1.99. Full guide: disputing late payments.
Frequently asked questions
Should I send this to the bureau or the lender?
Both. The bureau version starts the FCRA 30-day clock. The lender version (a direct dispute under FCRA §623) often resolves faster because the lender sees its own payment records. Change the address and the first line; the body stays the same.
What if the late payment is accurate?
Then this letter isn't the right one. Use the goodwill letter to ask the lender to remove it as a courtesy.
What proof works best?
A bank or card statement showing the payment posted before the due date. A payment confirmation email with a date. For forbearance, the approval letter or email from the lender showing the dates.