Sample dispute letter - Credit Bureau Date Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Complaint Department City, State, Zip Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute are circled on the attached copy of the report I received. (Identity item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) This item is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information. Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible. Sincerely, Your Name Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing) 7 Sample dispute letter - Credit Card Issuers Date Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Name of Creditor Address City, State, Zip Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing to dispute a billing error in the amount of $ on my account. The amount is inaccurate because (describe the problem). I am requesting that the error be corrected, that any finance or other charges related to the disputed amount be credited as well, and that I receive an accurate statement. Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence to describe any enclosed Information, such as sales slips, payment records) supporting my position. Please investigate this matter and correct the billing error as soon as possible. Sincerely, Your Name Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing) How Identity Theft Can Occur Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods (both low and high tech) to gain access to your data. How do identity thieves get your personal information? They: Steal wallets and purses containing your identification, credit and bank cards. Steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information. Complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location. Rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving." Fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for – and a legal right to — the information. Use personal information you share on the Internet. Buy your personal information from "inside" sources. For example, an identity thief may pay a company employee for information about you that appears on an application for goods, services or credit. How do identity thieves use your personal information? They: • Call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there's a problem. Open a new credit card account using your name, date of birth and Social Security number. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. • Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account. File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred in your name or to avoid eviction. Use counterfeit checks or debit cards and drain your bank account. Buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name. In the next section, we describe some steps you can take going forward to protect your personal information from identity thieves. What To Do Going Forward Identity theft and account fraud are serious issues. And, at Chase, we believe the more you understand how they can occur, the better you'll be able to take precautions to protect yourself. Chase works hard every day to ward off these threats, but even tighter security is possible only with your help. You may be aware of many of the steps you can take to stop these crimes before they happen, but some tips may be new to you. For that reason, we have outlined some steps you can take to prevent someone from stealing your identity in the future. While nothing is foolproof, following the steps outlined below can help to protect you. 1. Carry only what you need. The less personal information you have with you the better off you will be if you have your purse or wallet stolen. 2. Don't put outgoing mail in or on your mailbox. Drop it into a secure, official Postal Service collection box. Thieves may use your mail to steal your identity. Consider a home shredder for all sensitive documents. 3. Cancel any credit card accounts that you no longer use. 4. Don't pre-print your driver's license, telephone or Social Security numbers on your checks. 5. Report lost or stolen checks immediately. Chase will block payment on the check numbers involved. Also, review new checks to make sure none have been stolen in transit. 6. Store cancelled checks-and new checks--in a safe place. 7. Notify Chase of suspicious phone inquiries such as those asking for account information to "verify a statement" or "award a prize." 8. You should guard your ATM and credit card receipts. Thieves can use them to access your accounts. Never throwaway receipts in a public trash can. 9. Guard your Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for your ATM and credit cards, and don't write on or keep your PINS with your cards. 10. If you receive financial solicitations that you're not interested in, tear them up before throwing them away, so thieves can't use them to assume your identity. Destroy any other financial documents, such as bank statements or invoices, before disposing of them. 11. Don't give out financial information such as checking account and credit card numbers-and especially your Social Security number on the phone unless you initiate the call and know the person or organization you're dealing with. Don't give that information to any stranger, even one claiming to be from Chase. 12. If regular bills fail to reach you, call the company to find out why. Someone may have filed a false change-ofaddress notice to divert your information to his or her address. 13. If your bills include suspicious items, don't ignore them. Instead, investigate immediately to head off any possible fraud before it occurs. 14. Periodically contact the major credit reporting companies to review your file and make certain the information is correct. For a small fee, you can obtain a copy of your credit report at any time. The three major credit bureaus are: 15. Chase is committed to ensuring the privacy of your online transactions through the latest security technology. That's why for Internet-based communications we require the use of a browser that supports 128-bit encryption for the new, Internet-based product, Chase OnlineTM. 128-bit encryption is the highest level of data protection that is commonly available in today's Internet browsers and is needed to provide the approximate level of security we provide for our non-Internet based online banking products, such as Chase Online Banking, which uses a dial-up or "virtual private network" approach to transmission security. your safety, Another online safety feature is your password. Every time you log on to Chase OnlineTM, you are required to enter your ID and password. You control both and can change your password at any time. For you should not reveal your password to anyone. For more information about how you are protected when using Chase OnlineTM, or for more information about encryption, visit us at Chase.com. Together, you and Chase may be able to head off identity theft and account fraud before they ever happen. If you would like more information about identity theft, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) consumer website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft, or you can call the FTC toll-free at (1-877) IDTHEFT (438-4338). 11 14 |