A charge-off that's accurate can stay for seven years — but charge-offs are often reported with errors. If yours is wrong, dispute it with each bureau and the company that reported it.
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Your letters (3)
Letter to Equifax
October 23, 2026
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information in my credit report
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my Equifax credit file. The items I dispute are circled on the enclosed copy of my report.
[Add the items you dispute]
Under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of these items, forward the information I have provided to the companies that reported them, and delete or correct any information that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results of your reinvestigation in writing and, if my file changes, a free copy of my updated credit report.
Enclosed are:
- A copy of my credit report with the disputed items circled
- A copy of my driver's license or other government ID
- A copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing my current address
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Letter to Experian
October 23, 2026
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information in my credit report
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my Experian credit file. The items I dispute are circled on the enclosed copy of my report.
[Add the items you dispute]
Under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of these items, forward the information I have provided to the companies that reported them, and delete or correct any information that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results of your reinvestigation in writing and, if my file changes, a free copy of my updated credit report.
Enclosed are:
- A copy of my credit report with the disputed items circled
- A copy of my driver's license or other government ID
- A copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing my current address
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Letter to TransUnion
October 23, 2026
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information in my credit report
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my TransUnion credit file. The items I dispute are circled on the enclosed copy of my report.
[Add the items you dispute]
Under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of these items, forward the information I have provided to the companies that reported them, and delete or correct any information that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results of your reinvestigation in writing and, if my file changes, a free copy of my updated credit report.
Enclosed are:
- A copy of my credit report with the disputed items circled
- A copy of my driver's license or other government ID
- A copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing my current address
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Mail it the right way
Sign the letter and attach copies of what you listed.
Send it by certified mail, return receipt requested — your proof of the date it arrived.
Keep a copy of everything you send.
If mailed October 23, 2026, it should arrive around October 28, 2026. The bureau generally must finish its investigation by about November 27, 2026 (30 days; up to 45 if you send more information meanwhile).
Common charge-off errors worth disputing
Balance counted twice: after a charged-off debt is sold, the original creditor should show a $0 balance — only the new owner reports what's owed.
Wrong amount: the balance includes fees you didn't agree to, or doesn't reflect payments or a settlement.
Wrong dates: the date of first delinquency is later than it really was, which would keep the item on your report longer.
Too old: under FCRA § 605(c), the seven years start 180 days after the delinquency began, and selling the debt doesn't restart the clock.
Not yours, or paid/settled but still shown as unpaid.
This is exactly what the builder produces for an example charged-off card that was sold to a collector but still shows a balance with the original creditor. Use the tool above to make yours.
October 20, 2026
Jane Doe
123 Main St
Columbus, OH 43215
Date of birth: 01/31/1990
Social Security number: XXX-XX-1234
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information in my credit report
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to dispute the following information in my Experian credit file. The items I dispute are circled on the enclosed copy of my report.
1. Main Street Bank (charged off), account ending in 8812: The balance or amount reported is incorrect. The correct amount is $0. The account was sold to ABC Collections, which reports the same debt, so the balance is counted twice. I request that this item be corrected.
Under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of these items, forward the information I have provided to the companies that reported them, and delete or correct any information that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results of your reinvestigation in writing and, if my file changes, a free copy of my updated credit report.
Enclosed are:
- A copy of my credit report with the disputed items circled
- A copy of my driver's license or other government ID
- A copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing my current address
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Where to send a credit dispute
Equifax
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Addresses checked on each bureau's own dispute page on October 18, 2026. Disputes are free.
What happens after you send it
Credit bureaus must investigate within 30 days of receiving your dispute (45 days if you send more information during that time), pass your documents to the company that reported the item, and send you the results in writing within 5 business days of finishing. Items that are wrong or can't be verified must be corrected or deleted (FCRA § 611).
The company that reported it generally must investigate a direct dispute within 30 days too (Regulation V).
Debt collectors must stop collecting a debt you dispute in writing during the validation period until they send you verification (FDCPA § 809 and Regulation F).
If the result is wrong, you can dispute again with new evidence, add a statement to your file, or submit a complaint to the CFPB.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a charge-off be removed if I pay it?+
Paying doesn't remove an accurate charge-off; it should be updated to show a $0 balance and paid status. Some creditors agree to remove it as part of a settlement — get any such promise in writing before you pay.
How long does a charge-off stay on my report?+
Seven years, counted from 180 days after the delinquency that led to the charge-off. Selling the debt or making a payment doesn't restart that clock.
What if a collector re-reports an old charge-off with a new date?+
That's called re-aging and isn't allowed — the original delinquency date controls how long it can be reported. Dispute it as 'Negative item older than 7 years' or explain the wrong date.
Is it free to dispute my credit report?+
Yes. Disputing errors with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is free, and so is this letter builder. You can also check your reports for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Do I need a credit repair company?+
No. The FTC says that everything a credit repair company can legally do for you, you can do yourself for little or no cost. No company can legally remove accurate, current negative information from your report.
What is a 609 letter, and does it work?+
Section 609 of the FCRA gives you the right to see what's in your credit file. It isn't a special way to delete accounts. Accurate items can stay even if you send a '609 letter'. What works is disputing information that is actually wrong under section 611 — which is what this letter does.
Should I dispute online or by mail?+
Both work. Mail with a return receipt gives you proof of what you sent and when, and lets you attach documents and a copy of your report with the errors circled. Online is faster to file. Whichever you use, keep copies.
Is my information sent anywhere?+
No. The letter is built in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to Numlight or anyone else. If you choose to save a draft, it stays in this browser only, and SSN digits are never saved.
General information and sample letters, not legal advice. Numlight is not a law firm or a credit repair organization and doesn't send letters for you. Only dispute information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Sources: CFPB — disputing credit report errors; 15 U.S.C. § 1681i; 12 CFR § 1006.34.
