Whether you decide to work with one of the credit repair companies we've reviewed, or to tackle this challenge on your own, we want to help in any way we can. We've put together some sample credit repair letters that you can use for inspiration, but please keep in mind that these letters have not been drafted by lawyers. While we still recommend hiring a credit repair specialist to help you with this process, if you do decide to go at it on your own, we wanted to give you a head start.
When you work with a company to help fix your bad credit score, they will take care of this part of the process for you. Depending on who you go with, some will send out a few of these a month, some will send out an unlimited amount.
We always encourage consumers to be on top of their credit, to take ownership and to understand the process, but it still usually makes more sense to do that with the help of an experienced company, or a law firm like Lexington Law, who can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Why are we a bit apprehensive about the DIY approach?
Because failing to file these letters correctly can actually result in further damage to your credit score. It's kind of like playing with fire. If you're willing to take the time to really learn how to do everything correctly and to the letter of the law, you can save a few bucks versus hiring a company to handle it, but if you aren't prepared to put in the time, it can be a bit risky and can actually make matters worse.
None the less, we're here to support you in making your own decisions, whatever they may be. We strongly encourage that you get in touch with some of the credit repair companies that offer free consultations to get a feel for things, but if you end up wanting to strike out on your own, here's some of the documents that you'll need.
Remember: These documents are meant as samples only, they have not been drafted by attorneys and are merely meant as a guideline. We are not equipped or qualified to offer you any legal advice.
- Sample Credit Dispute Letter
- Sample Goodwill Letter
- Sample Pay for Delete Letter
- Sample Debt Validation Letter
- Sample Cease & Desist Letter
These aren't in any particular order of importance. When you've researched the credit repair process, you'll know when each of the above letters is necessary to use under the right circumstances. These letters can be very useful tools. Remember, it's up to the companies or the agencies claiming that you owe them money to prove it. Otherwise, you could just walk up to somebody, say they owe you $1000, and if they don't pay – you could mess up their credit report. It's not that easy, fortunately. These companies need to prove that you owe them, and if they can't prove that you owe them money – there is no debt. It doesn't exist.
If you don't take action to make them prove the negative claims on your credit report, they can get away with saying anything they want. Letting them know they need to provide evidence shows that you aren't going to be bullied, and it forces them to keep accurate records, which isn't always the case.
Is it necessary to send these letters?
You can make phone calls, but then you won't have any physical records of your communications. It's better to have everything in writing. Certain collections agencies may not operate in a completely ethical way, so if you don't have hard evidence of all of your communications, there's no telling what they could try to get away with.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind while preparing these letters:
- Keep a professional tone, even if you're so angry at these people for harassing you for months, especially if the debt is incorrect.
- It's best to write things in a clear and concise way, including only the pertinent information.
- You'll want to write it in your own words, but remember to stick to the absolute facts and try to keep emotions out of it.
- Ensure your letter is written correctly, otherwise it could be ignored and considered frivolous if you ever proceed to court with them.
- You won't be able to send requests over and over to the same companies. It's imperative that it is done correctly on the very first attempt.
