You know you should be proactive about protecting your credit score.

This is always a good idea, whether you’re experiencing problems with a drop in your score or not. Items can appear on your credit report without your knowledge and may or may not be legitimate. The best way to keep track of the accuracy of your report is to check it at least once a year with your free credit report or more frequently if you’re alerted to a sudden drop by a prospective creditor.

Credit bureaus are not the least bit hesitant to add negative items so you need to be very straightforward in your approach to them when you have some type of dispute. Always document your dispute in writing and be diligent about keeping copies of what you send. Following are some typical situations that can arise when you need to defend yourself to the credit bureaus, along with links to sample letters you can use as a guideline:

Sample Letter for Experian Credit Bureau: You can follow the format of this sample for general disputes with the Experian credit bureau, modifying the specifics to fit your situation. The Experian address is provided in the sample.

Sample Letter for Equifax Credit Bureau: Use this sample for disputes with Equifax Credit Bureau. You will also find the Equifax address in the sample letter.

Sample Letter for TransUnion Credit Bureau: When you have a dispute with TransUnion, you can use this sample as a guideline, changing the details as necessary. The TransUnion address is given in the sample.

Charge Off: Occurs when your debt is sold to a third-party for collection. Charge-offs are becoming more common. If you feel you have a valid dispute, use this Sample Charge-Off Letter as a guide to contact the credit bureau.