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Credit Bureau Disputes Reinvestigation & Escalation

Demand to Purge Obsolete Negative Information

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When to use it

Use to demand removal of adverse entries (late payments, collections, charge-offs, Chapter 13 bankruptcy) exceeding the 7-year or 10-year statutory reporting limits.

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Bracketed fields are filled in from your account when you generate it.

[CLIENT FULL NAME] [CLIENT ADDRESS LINE1] [CLIENT CITY], [CLIENT STATE] [CLIENT ZIP] Phone: [CLIENT PHONE] | Email: [CLIENT EMAIL] DOB: [CLIENT DOB] | SSN (last 4): XXX-XX-[CLIENT SSN LAST4] Date: [TODAY] [RECIPIENT NAME] [RECIPIENT ADDRESS BLOCK] Sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested: [LETTER CERTIFIED NUMBER] RE: Demand to Purge Obsolete Credit Information Pursuant to FCRA Section 605 (15 U.S.C. § 1681c) To Whom It May Concern at [BUREAU NAME], I am writing to demand the immediate removal of obsolete negative information currently appearing on my consumer credit report in violation of Section 605 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681c). The following entry has exceeded the statutory reporting limits mandated by federal law: Creditor / Entity Name: [ACCOUNT CREDITOR NAME] Account Number: [ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NUMBER MASKED] Date of First Delinquency: [ACCOUNT DATE OF FIRST DELINQUENCY] Dispute Reason: [ACCOUNT DISPUTE REASON] Requested Action: [ACCOUNT CORRECT INFORMATION] Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a), consumer reporting agencies are prohibited from reporting adverse items exceeding 7 years from the Date of First Delinquency (or 10 years for Chapter 7 bankruptcy). Because this item has reached its statutory obsolescence limit, continuing to report it is illegal. Please purge this record from my credit file immediately and send an updated report. Sincerely, ____________________________________ [CLIENT FULL NAME]

Legal basis

15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a)15 U.S.C. § 1681c(c)

Enclose

  • Copy of photo ID
  • Copy of proof of address
  • Highlighted credit report section showing obsolete items

Before you send

  • Check Date of First Delinquency (DOFD) or bankruptcy filing date.
  • Calculate if statutory 7-year or 10-year period has elapsed.
Know this first
  • Under § 1681c(c), the 7-year period for collections/charge-offs runs strictly from the Date of First Delinquency (DOFD), NOT the collection assignment date.

Follow up

Allow about 30 days for a response.