Templates
Letters you can copy, customize, and send
Every template here is a starting point, not a magic spell. Each one comes with the legal references that matter and notes on when and how to use it.
Dispute lettersFive customizable letters for disputing inaccurate credit report information: general dispute, re-aging, past fall-off, account not mine, and inaccurate balance.OpenDebt validation requestForce a debt collector to verify a debt within 30 days of first contact, as required by FDCPA section 1692g.OpenPay for deleteA negotiation letter offering payment in exchange for removal of a collection from your credit report. Includes important caveats.OpenCease and desistA letter requiring a debt collector to stop contacting you. Comes with significant warnings about what this does and does not accomplish.OpenHow to use these templates properlyCustomization, sending by certified mail, what to expect from each kind of letter, and when a template is not the right tool.Open
Read this before you copy anything
Templates are useful tools, but a template letter is only as effective as the documentation behind it and the situation it addresses. Before sending any of these:
- Understand why you are sending it. A dispute letter for an inaccurate account works because the inaccuracy can be documented. Sending generic dispute letters for accurate information rarely works and can sometimes backfire.
- Customize for your situation. Templates have placeholder text in [BRACKETS]. Replace every one. Do not send a template with placeholders still in it.
- Document everything. Keep copies of everything you send. Use certified mail with return receipt for important letters. Save confirmation numbers for online disputes.
- Know what happens next. Each template starts a process. Know what response to expect, when to follow up, and what to do if the response is inadequate.
Full guidance is on the How to use templates page.