How do I dispute a debt collection on my credit report?

In South Carolina, filing a dispute against a debt collection on your credit report can be done by contacting the credit bureau and providing evidence that the debt is erroneous or invalid. You should start by requesting your free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Once you have access to your credit report, review it for accuracy and look for any debt collections or other negative items. If you spot an incorrect or unverifiable debt collection, you should contact the credit bureau in writing with a “dispute letter.” Your letter should carefully explain the issue and include any documentation that supports your claim that the debt is not valid. You can also contact any collection agency that the debt has been sold to if the collection has been assigned to a third-party. Send the agency a “validation letter” requesting proof that the debt is accurate and it belongs to you. The agency then has 30 days to respond and provide proof of the debt. If they fail to provide valid proof, the debt can be removed from your report. If the debt collector continues to report the debt on your credit report after you’ve contested it, you can file a complaint with the state’s Consumer Debt Defense Law. This law gives consumers the right to dispute the debt and sue the collector for damages and any legal fees incurred in the dispute.

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How do I dispute a debt collection on my credit report?

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