Credit bureaus are legally required under the FCRA to investigate disputes — but only when they're formatted correctly. Here's what most people get wrong.
The Metro 2 Standard
Metro 2 is the Credit Data Industry Association (CDIA) standard for how credit information is reported. When you dispute an error, a Metro 2-formatted dispute compels a specific investigation process. A generic letter triggers a form response.
The 5 Most Common Credit Report Errors
- Mixed files — Your report contains another person's accounts (common with similar names/SSNs)
- Re-aged debt — Old debt (past the 7-year reporting limit) brought back by a new collection agency
- Duplicate tradelines — Same debt reported by both original creditor and collections agency
- Incorrect payment status — Paid accounts still showing as late or in collections
- Balance discrepancies — Paid-off accounts still showing a balance
The FCRA Dispute Process
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, when you dispute an item:
- The bureau must notify the furnisher (creditor/collector) within 5 business days
- The furnisher must investigate and report back within 30 days (45 with extension)
- If the furnisher cannot verify the information, it must be removed
- If the bureau fails to investigate properly, you have a private right of action under § 1681n
What SHA-256 Evidence Hashing Is For
If a bureau ignores your dispute or fails to respond within the statutory window, you need a timestamped, tamper-evident record of what you submitted and when. SHA-256 hashing provides this — a cryptographic proof of the dispute content at submission time, essential if you escalate to CFPB complaint or FCRA litigation.
Credit Dawg
Credit Dawg automates Metro 2 dispute letter generation for all three bureaus, tracks FCRA violation timelines, and hashes evidence at submission. $49 one-time: outset-solutions.com/products
The Credit Bureau Mastery ebook ($29) covers the dispute strategy and Metro 2 format in depth if you want to understand the process before automating it.
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