What Is a Method of Verification Letter? Examples and a Sample Letter
You have the right to dispute erroneous credit records that negatively affect your credit. If you have already disputed an item with an agency, it’s possible to go a step further with a method of verification letter.
A method of verification letter tells the credit agency that you still think that they’re wrong about their decision and want proof of how they investigated the negative credit item.
Let’s explore what a method of verification letter is, how it works, what to include in it, if it will help, and what to do if it doesn’t.
What Is a Method of Verification Letter?
A method of verification (MOV) letter, also called a 611 dispute letter, is a letter that you can send to a credit reporting agency to try to repair your credit.
If the agency indicates that they will not remove a disputed item on your credit record after you send them a credit repair dispute letter, you can send a MOV letter to ask about their decision.
In the MOV letter, you will ask the agency to explain how they verified that the item in dispute belongs to you.
How the Method of Verification Works
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus have a duty to consumers to allow them to dispute any incorrect information that creditors have placed on a consumer’s credit record.
1. Use a Method of Verification Letter to Determine the Bureau’s Method of Investigation
FCRA 611 (a) (6) and (7) give consumers the right to use a MOV letter to determine how far the bureau went to investigate the disputed charge.
It’s possible that the credit bureau didn’t go as far as to contact your original creditor. In many cases, the credit bureau simply sends a three-digit e-Oscar dispute code to a data furnisher that provides the credit information.
Verifying an automated e-Oscar code isn’t sufficient for determining the validity of a charge. Credit bureaus rarely do any other investigative work.
2. Wait 15 Days for a Reply
How long does a credit bureau have to respond to a method of verification letter? After the credit bureau receives the letter, FCRA 611 (a) (7) requires the bureau to reply within 15 days of receiving a 611 letter request.
What Should I Include in a Method of Verification Letter?
You should make several requests in your MOV letter and provide the necessary information related to your case. It’s essential to get the wording correct and invoke the applicable parts of FCRA 611.
Requests
- A description (per FCRA 611 (a) (7)) of the procedure the agency used to provide information to the creditor (per FCRA 611 (a))
- Name, address, and telephone number of each person they contacted concerning the account
- Copy of any documents that include your signature indicating a legal obligation to pay the amounts
- All relevant information from the creditor that they used in the dispute (per FCRA 611 (a) (2) (B))
- All information the creditor used for their investigation (per FCRA 611 (a) (7))
- A reply within 15 days or removal of the erroneous items
Pertinent Information
- The date you requested an investigation for inaccurate or erroneous items in your credit file
- Identification of the dispute
- The date you received an indication from the credit bureau that they had completed their investigation and would not be deleting the erroneous item (if applicable)
- A list of erroneous items, including company names, item names, and account numbers
- Closing with your full name, social security number, and address
Method of Verification Letter Template
Here’s a 611 letter template you can use to assist you in writing your own method of validation letter.
Update your information in the {brackets} and only send one letter to each credit bureau, and be sure to edit the verbiage in the template to make it more unique and accurate.
———————- Begin Template ———————-
{Full Name}
{Your Home Address}
{City, State, Zip Code}
{Experian or Equifax or TransUnion}
{Credit Bureau Address}
{Today’s Date}
To Whom It May Concern,
On {Enter Date} I requested an investigation regarding inaccurate/erroneous items on my credit file that were being reported illegally.
On {Enter Date} your agency sent a letter stating that you had completed your investigation and that the items were not deleted, as was originally requested. This is an issue that concerns me, as I do not understand how you arrived at this conclusion since this information is incorrect.
This letter is a formal request under FCRA 611 (a) (7) for a detailed description of the procedure that was used by your agency in providing all information to the creditor associated with my earlier dispute under FCRA 611 (a) filed with on {date of dispute}.
To be more specific, based on FCRA 611 (a) (2) (B), you were required to forward all of the relevant information I provided by you to the creditor for their investigation of my dispute.
Please provide me with the information used in your investigation, as required by FCRA 611 (a) (7).
Please respond within 15 days or delete each of the items, as originally requested.
I am listing all of the items below that you continue to list erroneously.
- Auto Payment – Account #0123456
- Internet Bill – Account #6543210
- Personal Loan – Chargeoff, Account #00456789
- Credit Card – Account #555777
Please note that I am taking this matter very seriously and demand that you follow the law, in its entirety, and send me detailed information of how you arrived at your conclusion, or else remove each of these items immediately.
Regards,
{Full Name}
{Date of Birth}
{Social Security Number}
{Home Address}
———————- End Template ———————-
Will the Method of Verification Help Your Credit Repair Efforts?
Many times, credit agencies deny that they have any responsibility to report their method of verification. However, if they do report their method of verification, it will give you a better idea of how far they went in their investigation so that you can take the necessary next steps.
It is also possible that the credit agency may remove the disputed charges after receiving the credit bureau verification procedure request.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also recommends you inform the organizations that furnished the credit agencies with the data about the erroneous charge in writing. These organizations may include your bank or credit card issuer. The contact information for these data furnishers should be on your credit report.
The FTC says that if the information that you are disputing turns out to be inaccurate, the data furnisher is required to tell the credit agency to update or delete the item from your credit report.
What to Do If the Credit Bureau Doesn’t Respond or Doesn’t Correct Your Credit Report
If the credit bureau refuses to comply with your request to explain how they arrived at their decision or does not correct your credit report, you can sue them for violating the FCRA. However, there are a few things you should do before suing them:
1. Do Your Own Investigation
Doing your own investigation will take some time, but it’s worth the effort:
- Contact the credit reporting agency: Give them your report reference number and ask them for their verification method following FCRA 611.
- Ask for the original creditor’s contact info: It’s most likely that they used a third-party database rather than contacting your original creditor. However, if they tell you that they contacted the original creditor, ask for the phone number.
- Contact the original creditor: Call to ask your original creditor for records of the credit reporting agency contacting them. If they have these records, demand a copy under the FACTA act. Be sure to get the name and contact information of the person with whom you talk.
- Review the records: If the records aren’t conclusive or the creditor has no records, take the next step.
- Call the credit reporting agency again: Call the credit reporting agency to tell them the original creditor has no records and that they need to open another dispute. Use the original creditor contact person’s contact information to open this new dispute.
2. File Complaints
File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, your state’s Attorney General’s Office, and the Better Business Bureau.
3. State Your Intention to Sue
If they still don’t respond or remove the disputed item, send an Intent to Sue Letter by certified mail with a return receipt.
State that you are suing them for willful non-compliance per FCRA 616.
4. Wait 10 Days
Give them 10 days to reply.
5. File a Lawsuit
If nothing happens within those 10 days, it’s time to take legal action. You can either file a lawsuit in small claims court or use NACA to find a consumer law attorney who is familiar with FCRA violations.
Final Thoughts on Using a Method of Verification Letter
While a method of verification letter will not always result in you getting the results you want from a credit reporting agency, it’s a proactive step in the right direction.
It may require even more work on your part to remove an erroneous item from your credit report. However, your diligence in a 611 dispute will eventually have results.
Here are the addresses of each credit bureau:
Experian
Dispute Department
P.O. Box 9701
Allen, TX 75013
Equifax
P.O. Box 7404256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
TransUnion
Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
