I'm beginning the process of cleaning up after a 7...and wanted some advice... 1) How soon after filing would you recommend beginning the first round of disputes? 2) Would you recommend disputing them all at once or piecemeal? Pros/Cons either way? 3) Is the general thought to dispute them all as 'not mine' or to say there is inaccurate info?
Start whenever you feel you need to get your credit fixed. In otherwords, if you don't need credit for 2 years then no need to rush. It's best to start with not mine. If you dispute inaccuracies you are then admitting the debt is yours. The amount to dispute depends on how many you have listed. 3-4 at a time seems to be the maximum. If you do it online with Experian you can do a couple everyday. For me, it doesn't work as good with TU and EQ to dispute daily.
If I were going to do 3-4 a time on Equifax, should I write one letter for 3-4 to Equifax and then wait on the results before writing on another 3-4, or could I write on another 3-4 a few days/weeks later, while waiting on the results of the first query?
You can do EQ online, but after 2-3 times they shut you down then you have to go to doing it by mail or phone. I prefer online, then phone and writing last. This is just my preference. You can do a few every couple days. It's better to wait for the results. Just depends on how much time you have.
Keep in mind that if you tip the CRAs off that you are trying to fix your credit by disputing too much they could begin to label your disputes as frivolous. I think the standard is one letter with 3-5 disputed items every 90 days. But I think you could be sending letters to the appropriate CAs and OCs during this time too. Might as well hit them from both sides.
I disagree. When just starting, send your dispute letter with 3 - 5 items. I agree with that. When you get your results, send the next round. There is no reason to wait 90 days, As for letters to the oc's or ca's, I wouldn't do that until your initial dispute with the cra shows that it is necessary. Why contact a creditor and stir up the nest if a simple cra dispute works? If it doesn't work, then you can start with your letters.
