FCRA §611
FCRA §611(a)(1) requires bureaus to investigate disputed items within 30 days. The bedrock dispute provision.
FCRA §611, 15 U.S.C. §1681i, gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate information on credit reports. The statute requires credit-reporting agencies to conduct a "reasonable reinvestigation" within 30 days of receiving a consumer dispute.
If the bureau cannot verify the disputed information as accurate during the 30-day window, the item must be deleted. If the bureau verifies the information by contacting the furnisher, the consumer can demand the verification procedure under §611(a)(7) — a powerful round-2 escalation tool.
The 30-day clock starts on the date the bureau receives the dispute, not the date you mail it. That's why Certified Mail with Return Receipt is non-negotiable: the Return Receipt date is your statutory anchor.
Also called
Related terms
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681 — federal law governing how credit reporting works.
FCRA §611(a)(7) requires bureaus to disclose how they verified a disputed item within 15 days of consumer request.
A round-2 dispute letter under FCRA §611(a)(7) demanding the bureau disclose how they verified a previously-disputed item.
USPS service that provides proof of mailing and delivery — required for FCRA dispute audit trails.
Run the Cougar Method on your credit file.
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