 TITLE: How to Write a Credit Dispute Letter CONTENT: Be Vigilant With Your Information\n---------------------------------\nWhat if you've disputed information on your report and it's deemed correct and not removed? Negative information only remains on your credit report for a set period of time, so eventually it will \"fall off\" your report and no longer affect your credit score. You can also ask to add a consumer statement of explanation to your report. These statements don't remove negative information or affect your credit score, but they can provide potentially helpful information for lenders who are trying to understand your credit history—for example, if a past late payment was in fact the result of an extended unemployment or illness.\nWhile often completed much faster, the FCRA requires that Experian allow 30 days for the dispute process to be completed. The length of time will depend on the type of dispute you submit and how quickly the lender or other data furnisher responds. To keep your Experian credit report and score in the best possible shape, it's wise to review the information by checking both your free credit report and score on a regular basis. This allows time to have information you disagree with updated or corrected before you are in the middle of the loan or credit application process. It also puts you in a better position to detect and dispute potential fraud sooner. END