Does anybody know if it is better to dispute credit issues online, or thru the mail?

I know they have 30 days to verify, or it has to be removed. I'm just not sure which method would benefit me the most as far as them missing the 30 days.

Public Comments

1. Telephone. Call them first then follow up with a letter through the mail. That way they will have something in writing from you.
2. Obtain a free credit report from the 3 major bureaus, transunion, equifax and experian, 1 per year is free to you. Use only these, dont sign up for some program that cost money you can do it yourself. The ones that are available on line you are safe to dispute. Any others you would dispute directly with the bureau and they control the 30 days, you dont have to. You be advised in writing what the results are. Hope this helps. good luck!
3. I highly recommend doing it both ways as the credit bureaus do not seem to be very good at responding to all inquiries to dispute credit issues. First dispute it online to begin the dispute process and follow it up with a certified letter that needs to be signed by someone there. This is more likely to get their attention and help them realize that you are serious about your dispute and having it handled efficiently.
4. Rules vary from state to state. It is possible that e-mail is regarded as a legal means of communicating, but (financial counselor that I've been) I advise my clients that the best way to preserve legal rights is via the mail. One strategy that MAY (or may not) be appropriate in your situation is to contact the company directly. Get someone on the phone who says that he/she is authorized to make adjustments. Be sure to get the person's name (Not just first name but full name, company ID # and/or directr phone extension line). If you can reach an amicable agreement, yell him/her that you will send a tentative letter of commitment to the agreement (followed by a hard copy via snail mail to THAT PERSON's physical address), with your commitment SUBJECT to receiving a written laetter of acknowledgement to the terms contained in your letter. I generally compose my letter: (1) addressing it to the person I spoke to; and state: "This letter confirms our telephone conversation at (time) on (date) about my account (number). I explained to you that (enter conversation details). You said (enter company rep's comments). Based on our conversation it is my I understanding that if I do (state what it is you agreed to) you will adjust my account by (state what she agreed to). My commitment will become effective as soon as I receive your confirmation of these terms." OH YEAH.... keep the promises you make. Good luck!!
5. Generally it is better to do it through the mail. This is because you can not send documentation on-line, so if it requires documentation you will have to send it in the mail anyways. When you do send it be sure to send it Certified Mail with Signature Return Receipt. This way you know you got it. Now if you are doing this to try and get something removed off because they did not respond in 30 days, neither will work in the long run. This is because when you dispute it, after 30 days it can come off. However, if it gets reverified at a later date it can be put right back on there. Also, do not try to send multiple disputes by multiple methods. They will consider that as frivolous and they then do not have to use the same time line in investigating your disputes.
6. I only dispute online. I love it! They get back to you right away too.
7. So far OC1999 is the closest to being right on this. One thing no one has mentioned. If you dispute an item on-line and it isn't resolved to your satisfaction you CANNOT dispute it online again. Generally speaking, if you have alot (more than say three) items to dipute, you should do it through the mail. Do it in stages of perhaps 5 items at a time. If you dispute everything at once, the bureaus can deem it to be "frivolous" as OC said and just toss the whole thing. Send your dispute with a photocopy of your drivers license and social security card and send it registered mail return receipt requested. Do this for a couple of iterations and you will see results. If you are still not satisfied at that time you can dispute some of the items online that didn't get resolved.
8. You will proble be better of going to thru the mail and copying everything that you send and send things certified to conferm that the creditors have recieved them.