Credit Bureau Stall Letter Examples
The bureaus will send different variations of these letters, but they're all doing basically the same thing: Looking for a way to frustrate, intimidate, or draw out the dispute process so you'll stop bothering the bureaus.
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TransUnion Stall Letter ExamplesUnecessarily reminding you that you have rights to do exactly what you're doing, or calling a dispute "frivolous"... |
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1. TransUnion "Third Party" Stall Letter.
During some months, TransUnion may send this letter to everyone who sends a dispute request.
Statement from the Lawyers at Lexington Law:
"Some of you have received the following letter from TransUnion. We call this a stall letter. Stall letters are not new or unique to TransUnion. All the bureaus regularly send stall letters to delay the time when the bureau must either investigate or delete disputed items. The purpose of this article is to guide you through this particular stall letter and educate you about your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
"TransUnion's purpose for sending this stall letter is to get you to stop using us to dispute items for you on your credit report. Why does TransUnion want you to stop using our office? Because we get results. TransUnion knows that consumers who use Lexington Law Firm get results. Equally important, TransUnion knows we won't give up. No matter how many times they try to ignore us, we come back. Consumers disputing on their own are more easily discouraged when confronted by the behemoth bureaucracy that is TransUnion.
"TransUnion wrote this letter to scare you-to make you think you did something wrong by hiring us. They imply that 'you may have broken the law.' Don't be scared by their threats! As you'll see when we examine their letter, you acted perfectly within your rights."
2. The Transunion "Frivolous Dispute" or "Previously Verified" Stall Letter.
TransUnion could send you a letter stating that they consider your dispute frivolous or that they have previously verified your dispute. The letter states that your challenge won't be investigated or re-investigated.
This letter asks you to send TransUnion legal documents like court papers, letters from creditors, etc. If you send those papers, the bureaus may use them to prove the account is yours.
The letter also states that you can write a consumer statement of 100 words or less and send it to them. A potential creditor will probably never read it! In fact it is more than likely they will use it against you to squash any future disputes you might send them.
3. Rights under the FCRA.
Another stall letter that many consumers receive is a letter informing you of your rights under Fair Credit Reporting Act. All of the bureaus send out variations of this letter.
The letter can be confusing and discouraging. Please understand this letter means nothing.
TransUnion most likely will still send you the results of the investigation request.
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Equifax Stall Letter ExamplesHiding behind affiliated company names, asking for additional information, or inferring that using a third party to dispute is somehow unlawful... |
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1. Equifax Proof of Identity Stall Letter.
This letter requests that you verify your identity before Equifax will process the request.
Equifax uses this stall tactic in the name of "keeping your information secure" or "preventing identity theft."
If you get this letter, don't sweat it! Simply send Equifax the information they requested, and they should proceed with the dispute.
2. Equifax Affiliate Stall Letters.
CSC Credit Services, ChoiceData Services, Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge, or Lafayette Regional are all affiliates of Equifax and send out similar stall letters
This letter is typically the same amongst all of the above mentioned affiliates and explains that your dispute request is being forwarded to the facility where your data is housed.
3. Equifax Third Party Stall.
Just like TransUnion, Equifax sends letters discouraging you from using a 3rd party to help correct your credit.
Please understand this is not true. You have every right to have someone assist you in correcting your credit.
If you get this letter, send it to your paralegal right away. We will then draft a new dispute.
A good rule of thumb is that if you receive a letter and you are confused or discouraged, then it's a good bet that it is a stall tactic.
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Experian Stall Letter ExamplesAsking for additional information to prove your identity, or stating that something has been previously verified... |
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1. Experian Proof of Identification Stall Letter.
Experian uses this stall tactic in the name of "keeping your information secure" or "preventing identity theft."
If you get this letter, don't sweat it! Simply send Experian the information requested and they should proceed with the dispute.
2. Experian "Frivolous Dispute" or "Previously Verified" Stall Letter
Like the other bureaus, Experian also sends a Frivolous Dispute or Previously Verified stall letter. This letter calls your dispute frivolous and refuses to investigate or re-investigate the accounts.
This letter asks you to send Experian legal documents like court paper, letters, from creditors, etc. If you send those papers, the bureaus will just use them to prove the account is yours. Our advice: Don't send them anything.
The letter may also state that you can write a consumer statement of 100 words or less and send it to them. Potential creditors typically never read consumer statements.
