How to handle: an old item is being re-aged or reported past 7 years
Dispute the item as obsolete and demand deletion. Most adverse items must come off after seven years from the date of first delinquency (ten for most bankruptcies); manipulating that date ('re-aging') to extend reporting is prohibited. Request the date of first delinquency the bureau is using.
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. 1681c(a) — Most adverse items must be removed after seven years (ten years for most bankruptcies); re-aging a debt to extend reporting is prohibited. [read]
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]
Evidence to enclose
Credit report showing the item and its dates
Any record establishing the true date of first delinquency
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.