Patrick McKenzie provides a comprehensive guide to resolving identity theft and erroneous credit report entries, drawing on his unusual hobby of ghostwriting hundreds of dispute letters from 2004-2007. He explains how credit reporting agencies and banks operate, their incentives, and their regulatory obligations under the FCRA and FDCPA. The core strategy is to present yourself as an organized professional building a paper trail, communicate only in writing, and leverage the fact that regulated institutions fear well-documented complaints far more than angry phone calls. He walks through the exact sequence: file a police report, write the bank, then the CRAs, using calm professional language that signals awareness of legal deadlines and willingness to escalate.
Sep 9, 2017 Policy & RegulationCareer & Negotiation
