Credit Card Help Center: Sample Letters

Sample letters to credit bureaus, collection agencies, credit card companies.

Sample Letters to Collection Agencies

To Request Verification of Debt
To Request Them to Stop Contacting You
For Settlement of Debt
For Payment Arrangement

Sample Letters to Credit Bureaus

To Dispute Wrong Information
To Dispute Inquiries
To Request a FREE Copy of Credit Report (when denied credit, unemployed, or victim of fraud)

Letter to Collection Agency To Request Verification of Debt

[Your full name]
[Your address]

[Date]

[Name of collection agency]
[Address of collection agency]

RE: [Account number]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I have recently been informed that I owe a debt of $[amount] to [original creditor].

I believe that this information is not correct.

Please send me a written verification of the debt.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Collection Agency To Request Them to Stop Contacting You

[Your full name]
[Your address]

[Date]

[Name of collection agency]
[Address of collection agency]

RE: [Account number]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I have been in contact with your agency about a debt of $[amount] to [original creditor].

I ask you to stop contacting me about that debt.

[a- As previously stated, I do not believe owe it]
[b- I am not able to pay this debt partially or in full at this time.]

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Collection Agency For Settlement of Debt

[Your full name]
[Your address]

[Date]

[Name of collection agency]
[Address of collection agency]

RE: [Account number]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I have been in contact with your agency about a debt of $[amount] to [original creditor].

As agreed, if I pay $[amount of the settled debt]:

- this debt will be settled in full,

- you will promptly notify the creditor that there is no longer a balance due on the debt, and

- you will promptly notify the credit bureaus that the debt has been paid.

[Optional: As agreed, you will have the collection account removed from the credit bureaus records.]

Upon receipt of your written confirmation of the above terms, I will proceed with the payment.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Collection Agency For Payment Arrangement

[Your full name]
[Your address]

[Date]

[Name of collection agency]
[Address of collection agency]

RE: [Account number]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I have been in contact with your agency about a debt of $[amount] to [original creditor].

As agreed, I am making every effort to pay this debt as quickly as my financial situation allows.

Our agreement is that I will pay $[amount] on a [weekly/monthly/other] basis.

Enclosed is the first chechk based on this agreement.

If this is not our agreement, please return the enclosed check, and contact me to discuss other arrangements.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Credit Bureaus To Dispute Wrong Information

[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Your Social Security Number]

[Date]

[Name of credit bureau]
[Address of credit bureau]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I recently ordered my credit report and found it contains misleading information.

I am requesting that you investigate the item listed below.

This item has not been reported properly:

[Name of Company as mentioned in the report]
[Address of Company as mentioned in the report]
[Explanation (as to why you think this item contains misleading information)]

Please correct the information and have this item reported correctly on my credit history.

Please forward a copy of my updated report to me after you complete this request.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Credit Bureaus To Dispute Inquries

[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Your Social Security Number]

[Date]

[Name of credit bureau]
[Address of credit bureau]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I recently ordered my credit report and found it contains misleading information.

The following inquiries were not authorized by me and I would like them removed.

[Inquiring Company - Inquiry Date]
[Inquiring Company - Inquiry Date]
...

Please forward a copy of my updated report to me after you complete this request.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page

Letter to Credit Bureaus To Request a FREE Copy of Credit Report (when denied credit, unemployed, or victim of fraud)

[Your full name]
[Your address]
[Your Social Security Number]

[Date]

[Name of credit bureau]
[Address of credit bureau]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I [was denied credit due to a report obtained from your agency / am unemployed, and looking for employment / have reason to believe that my credit report has inaccurate information due to ID theft or other fraud].

A copy of the letter I received is attached.

Under my rights defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I would like to receive a free copy of my credit report from your agency.

Regards,

[Your name]

Top of Page