How to handle: my credit report shows an account that is not mine
Dispute the account as not belonging to you and demand deletion of unverifiable information. Invoke the bureau's duty of maximum-possible-accuracy and reasonable reinvestigation. If it stems from identity theft, reference the four-business-day block right (an FTC IdentityTheft.gov report unlocks it).
Deadline: 30-day bureau reinvestigation clock (45 days if you add documents mid-investigation) — 30 days. The bureau's clock starts when it RECEIVES your dispute (send certified mail and keep the receipt to prove the start date). It is 30 days, extended to 45 if you submit additional information during the first 30 (15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(1)).
The correct letter
FCRA Credit-Report Dispute to the Bureau (§611) — Sent to a credit reporting agency (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Disputes an inaccurate item. The bureau must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and delete or correct unverifiable information, generally within 30 days (15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)).
The statutes it stands on
15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(1) — On a consumer dispute, a credit reporting agency must conduct a free reasonable reinvestigation within 30 days (45 if the consumer adds relevant information during the period). [read]
15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(5) — Information found inaccurate, incomplete, or that cannot be verified must be promptly deleted or modified, and may not be reinserted without certified confirmation. [read]
15 U.S.C. 1681e(b) — A credit reporting agency must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information in a consumer report. [read]
15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 — Information that results from an alleged identity theft must be blocked from the consumer's file within four business days of a valid request with an identity-theft report. [read]
Evidence to enclose
A copy of the credit report with the disputed account circled
A government ID and proof of address (bureaus require identity verification)
If identity theft: your FTC IdentityTheft.gov report / police report
Certified-mail receipt
Draft this exact letter from your own facts — cited to the law, with your deadline computed — for one flat fee of $29.00.
This is a clerical document-DRAFTING tool, not legal advice and not a credit-repair service. DisputeForge is not a law firm and does not represent you or guarantee any outcome (no deletion, no score change). You review, sign, and mail the letter yourself. Verify every date against your own dated notice before sending. We charge one flat fee for the drafted document — we never charge a recurring fee for a promise to improve your credit.