How to Remove Personal Information from Your Credit Reports

As boring and unimportant it may seem, but Personal Information should be the first step when you’re ready to start disputing errors on your credit reports. It is usually overlooked but it allows you to get better results in your other disputes.

Your personal information includes:

• Names

• Date of Birth

• Social Security Number

• Addresses

• Telephone numbers

• Employers

How do these personal information’s errors get on your credit reports?

Whenever you apply for credit at a dealership, store, and the salesperson makes a mistake on the application, then it gets reported on your credit reports. That misinformation will be part of your permanent credit file. Another reason could also be a sign of identity theft.

How does something so small affect your credit file?

When applying for new credit or a job, the creditor may take it as a sign of dishonesty if the information you provided them do not match what’s on your credit file. Some background check for new employees includes a credit check, just like a creditor, the potential employer can take misinformation on your credit file as a sign of dishonesty and may choose another candidate due to those errors.

Now, how can you dispute this personal information?

Just like any errors on your credit reports, you can dispute them with the credit bureaus. THAT’S THE LAW! Your credit reports should be 100% accurate, not 99.99%. So, a simple letter instructing the credit bureaus to remove old and unknown personal information on your credit reports should do the trick. When sending the letters, make sure you include a current photo ID and your social security card. If your ID does not have your current address, send a utility bill with your current address.

Now that we got the HOWs out the way, let’s go back to the reasons why starting with disputing personal information will get you better results in your other disputes.

Negative accounts are tied to specific personal information. For example, you may have a collection account/charged-off account that is tied to an old address that you no longer reside at, by taking the extra step to dispute your personal information first, that old address will be removed, so it won’t be tied to the collection/charged-off account you’re disputing. It will be easier to be deleted since the bureaus may not be able to verify it.

What should your letter include?

The process is pretty straight forward:

• Check your credit reports

• Read your credit reports, and check the personal information section

• Locate all the incorrect information (misspelled names, wrong social security number, date of birth, old addresses, wrong addresses, former employer)

• Then write your letter stating:

“This is the correct spelling of my name: (WRITE YOUR NAME)

My current address: (YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS)

My social security number: (THE CORRECT NUMBER)

My date of birth: (CORRECT DOB)

My employer: (CURRENT EMPLOYER)

All the other personal information you are reporting on my credit report are wrong, so please delete all the inaccurate information you are reporting that do not match the above personal information.

Thanks,

Your name”

Be sure to send a copy of your current ID, Social Security, and a utility bill.

The credit bureaus have 30-45 days to respond to your letters, and an additional 5 days to mail them.

Again, the credit bureaus report anything that a creditor provides them. So, removing any past and inaccurate personal information from your reports will help when you start tackling the derogatory items.

If you find errors on your reports, you as a consumer, you have the right to dispute any inaccuracies on your report. Again, by law, your credit reports should be 100% accurate!

If you need help disputing errors on your reports, you can find everything you need in our DIY Credit Repair Kit, and other strategies. One of the strategies is HOW TO SPEED THE PROCESS AND REMOVE ALL INACCURATE AND OLD PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM YOUR CREDIT REPORTS IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.

When disputing errors on your reports, be sure to stay ORGANIZED and remain CONSISTENT. DO NOT GIVE UP!

Ok loves, remember to always monitor your credit reports!