I have been reading EVERYTHING to figure out what to do to clean up a credit report. I got a free Credit Report from a site that was recommended, but I often see people on this and other forums saying you should dispute any old addresses. How do I do that? It's all very confusing, I can see old addresses on my "report", but I also don't see what old addresses were used by previous credit holders. How do I find that out?
where did you get your report? Which bureau did you receive your report from? There are 3 big ones (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). For best results, you will want to get a copy of your report from each of these since each will likely have different information about you. When disputing information in your file, you can either do so online in some cases, or by sending certified mail to the appropriate credit bureau. Take a look at the sample letters on this site for templates to use when disputing information in your report. I agree it's easy to get overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time, read a lot, and try not to stress out about the whole process.
Good advice, but I'd recommend avoiding sample letters altogether. Just keep it short and direct. "Dear ___, I believe my credit report contains some inaccurate information. Please remove the following entries: First Last 123 Any Street City, ST 12345 Sincerely, Me" That's all you have to do. Also, I've had success in getting things deleted through their websites. Some people have reported problems, but the way I see it, it's free. If it doesn't work, it didn't cost you anything but time.
