Repair Credit Score

Should I add a statement to my Credit Report?

If you have incorrect information on your Credit Report and the credit bureau's investigation doesn't resolve
the Credit Report dispute to your satisfaction, you have the right to file a brief statement stating the nature of the dispute.

The bureau must include your statement, or a summary or codification of it, in any report that includes the disputed information. If the reporting agency helps you write the summary, the statement will be limited to one hundred words. Otherwise, there is no word limit, but it is a good idea to keep the statement very brief.

How long should my statement be?

The credit bureau is only required to provide a summary or codification of your statement (not your actual statement) to anyone who requests your file. If your statement is short, the credit bureau is more likely to pass on your statement, unedited.

If your statement is long, the credit bureau will probably condense your explanation to just a few sentences or codes. To avoid this problem, keep your statement clear and concise.

Can I request that my statement to my Credit Report be given out every time my Credit Report is requested?

If you request it, the bureau must also give the statement or summary to anyone who received a copy of your file within the past six months (or two years if your file was given out for employment purposes.)

This service is free if you request it within 30 days after the bureau has provided you notice of the results of the investigation. Otherwise, you will have to pay the same amount as the bureau would normally charge for a Credit Report ($9.50 in most states).