What kind of documentation do you need to send to the credit bureaus proving it’s you making a credit report dispute? Apparently, this changes with the wind. I recently received this email:
Hello, I am really confused with what kind of proof of identity I’m supposed to send to the credit bureaus when I’m writing a dispute letter. I recently sent in a dispute to Trans Union and included a copy of my driver’s license AND Social Security Card.
They sent me a letter back telling me my proof of identity is inadequate, that I needed a utility bill. I’m a college student living with my parents and I don’t have any utility bills. What do I need to send them? I looked at Trans Union’s website and they don’t even list ANY documentation which is required? What is going on? Do they want DNA evidence or what?
That’s just wrong. In my own dealings with Trans Union when disputing credit report errors, they’ve ALWAYS accepted a copy of my driver’s license and SSN card as adequate proof of identity and proceeded with investigating my disputes.
I called Trans Union’s customer service number was given the service rep “Judith” (who would not give me her last name or an extension). When I tried to tell her again what had happened to my reader, she DID say told me that a consumer does not need ANY identification at all when sending in a written dispute.
I asked “Judith” why my reader’s written request was rejected and the script she had in front of her did not cover the situation. After a pause, she asked if the person was there and could she talk to them. After several more inquiries as to whether the person was “there with me and could she talk with them”, I just told her I was writing a story for my website and I just wanted basic procedures for written disputes.
Judith then made me hold while she figured out what to do. When she came back, gave me a number to call in Trans Union’s media division which did not work: 312 085 2540. I didn’t mis-hear the number, we had a conversation as I explained that “085″ is not a valid telephone prefix. She insisted that was the number. I found out later that the actual number is 312 985 2540 – another reason Trans Union should update their phone scripts.
I couldn’t get through to the media relations number, so I’ve now emailed Media Relations at Trans Union who can hopefully shed some light on this situation. We’ll see.
In the meantime, sending in a copy of your driver’s license and SSN should be PLENTY good enough to prove your identity when sending in written disputes. After all, “Judith” says that you don’t need ANY proof of identity. Here’s an article we’ve had up on our site for years regarding the documentation you need to send in for disputes.
What should my reader do in the meantime? At the very least, Trans Union they’ve taken longer than 30 days to get back to my reader, in which case all of the items he disputed should be removed from his credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act says that if a credit bureau cannot finish an investigation within 30 days, they must remove the disputed information. I’m thinking that Trans Union could also be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act for “willful” non compliance (refusing to investigate a legitimate request).
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Ive had a similar experiences where Ive included front & back copies of drivers license w ss card because the my state mails a sticker for updated addresses when you move. Apparently the people on the receiving end from the Experian/Equifax rejected this which then forced me to resend same documents.I believe its a ploy or stalling tactic used by them.
Derrick – I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve been dealing with these issues for the last 5 years. Experian started it, and now it has spread to the other bureaus. I’ve actually had Experian send a letter stating they we’re “protecting my identity” because they could not verify that it was in fact “you” that sent in the dispute, (despite the fact the letter was accompanied by a d/l, ssc AND a utility bill) after calling them the rep simply stated “what is the nature of your dispute, we can handle it now over the phone for you”.
So yes, I do believe it’s their default tactic when they have too many letter to process to take a portion of their written disputes and send back a generic letter stating they would be happy to comply with proper documentation.
I was surprised to read this about Transunion as we have had good results with them. In our experience, Experian has done the most stalling. In fact, just last week they sent a response claiming that we were the ones who needed to provide documentation to support our disputes!!
There’s a letter going to the AG with a copy of this to show the lack of co-operation.
I suspect the bureaus are being bombarded more than ever with disputes and will probably do more to delay fixing things. This is a classic example of how broken our system is when large companies have no incentive to help people better their financial situations.
my wife is a notary. she must check I.D before stamping any docs as notarized. So with that it should be enough to prove your ID. If a judge see this he may decide its good enough. for more info. check this site.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_public
I have been trying to get an interloper off my husbands credit for about 2 months now! Even after sending in proof of ssn, dl, utility bill they still send me a letter stating that the other guys name has been verified to be with this credit report!!!! Everything is outsourced to India when we have a 10% unemployement rate and we’re forced to talk to rude and impatient people that can’t get something simple cleared up. Additionally, some other genius has come up with E-Oscar system which is FLAWED, and out to be outlawed. Ggrrrrrrrr!!! I could probably contact their legal department and get it changed quickly, but instead I have contacted an attorney and will fight this thing for the greater good. Getting my husband’s credit fixed is standing in the way of us buying a home, but how many other psople are in the same boat?
I had the same issue with Experian. I wrote them a letter regarding an inaccuracy – and got a letter back from them saying that they were “unable to honor my request because I didn’t provide them identification to verify my identity. Nonsense!