You create disputes in SmartDispute.ai in three steps: choose a category, choose the accounts, and review the suggested disputes. SmartDispute.ai drafts a letter for each one, which you can change before you finish. Smart Track then keeps your letters in one place, from download and mailing through results, and your next round on an account is due 35 days after you mail.
Key Takeaways
- Click Create New Dispute, pick a category, pick accounts, and review each suggested dispute.
- You can replace any suggested dispute reason with your own wording.
- Download your letters in Smart Track, mail them or request free mailing, and mark them as sent.
- One dispute per account per round. The next round is due 35 days after you mail.
How to Create a Dispute
- Click Create New Dispute on your Smart Report, or open Smart Dispute from the menu.
- Choose a category, such as Late Payments, Collections, Charge-Offs, Inquiries, or Public Records. The accounts in that category appear automatically.
- Choose the accounts to dispute. Click the plus sign to see an account’s details. The Smart Dispute System assigns the highest-priority dispute it found for each account.
- Review each suggested dispute. It uses data from your own reports. To use your own reason instead, enter it, and it replaces the suggestion on the letter.
- Click Finish. Your letters are ready in Smart Track.
Repeat for each category you want to dispute. Dispute only what you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or can’t be verified.
How Inquiry Disputes Work
Inquiries follow a different order. Round one goes to the company that requested your report. Round two goes to the credit bureau 35 days later, with your first letter attached. If you try to dispute an inquiry tied to an account that’s open and active, SmartDispute.ai warns you first, because the lender could flag or close the account. Here’s how inquiry dispute letters work.
Using Smart Track
Smart Track is where you manage every letter. It has three tabs:
| Tab | What’s there | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New (needs attention) | Letters you just created | Download, print, and mail them, or request free mailing; then click Mark as Sent |
| Active | Letters you’ve mailed | Wait for the bureau’s results. You can upload a copy of a response if you’d like to keep it here. |
| Completed | Letters whose round is finished | Check your next report for changes; SmartDispute.ai queues the next dispute when one is needed |
When Is the Next Round?
Your next round on an account is due 35 days after you mail the letter, so the bureau has time to investigate and respond. Until then, the account shows “disputed X days ago,” and SmartDispute.ai won’t create another dispute for it. When the round is due, SmartDispute.ai suggests a different dispute if the item is still reporting, and it varies the wording so your letters don’t read like form letters.
Bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate, or up to 45 if you send more information. Here’s how credit bureaus investigate disputes.
How to Fix Your Name or Address on Letters
- Go to My Account, then Account Settings, correct your information, and click Save.
- In Smart Track, delete the letters with the wrong information from the New tab.
- Create the letters again in Smart Dispute. They’ll use your updated information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accounts can I dispute at once?
As many as you want. There’s no limit on disputes, but each account gets one dispute per round.
Can I write my own dispute?
Yes. Enter your own reason when you review the suggested dispute, and it appears on the letter instead.
Do I have to update Smart Track when results come in?
No. Your next monthly report shows any changes. Uploading a bureau’s response is optional.
What if a dispute comes back verified?
That’s common in round one. When the next round is due, SmartDispute.ai suggests a different dispute. Most people need more than one round.
Why can’t I dispute an account again right away?
The next round is due 35 days after you mail the last letter, so the bureau has time to investigate.
Need Help?
Contact us by chat, by email at [email protected], by phone at (910) 597-2636 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, or on Facebook Messenger.