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Legal Form | Credit Repair: Method of Verification Demand

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-This is a sample “MOV” or “method of verification” letter. It’s an advanced tool in a consumer’s credit repair arsenal. Before using it, you should read about Method of Verification.

Experian

701 Experian Parkway

Allen, TX 75013

RE: Fair Credit Reporting Act Request under § 611(a)(0)

To Whom It May Concern:

Time is of the essence with regard to this request. You have made an error in my credit reporting that is harming my ability to secure employment and credit. I have documented your errors, and I will continue to do so. I will avail myself of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act if you continue to violate my rights.

This letter is a request under the Fair Credit Reporting Act §611(a)(7) following a request for investigation that I made under the section just previous in the FCRA, specifically §611(a)(6). I have received the results of my 611(a)(6) request, thank you for that. Please do not interpret this letter as a request for further investigation under 611(a)(6).

As you well know, the FCRA governs your handling of my personal information. And, my request today is my statutorily-granted right to learn the method and description of the reinvestigation procedure you utilized. Section 611(a)(7) states:

(7) Description of reinvestigation procedure
A consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer a description referred to in paragraph (6)(B)(iii) by not later than 15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description.

The specific entry for which I request a description of reinvestigation procedure is the following entry:

CountryWide Account No.: 5262****

You have already ignore a previous request for a description of the investigation procedure. In my original request for investigation, I state the following:

“Be advised that the description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information is hereby requested as well, to be provided within 15 days of the completion of your reinvestigation.”

I received no response to my request.

I am sure that you can tell from this letter that I am familiar with my rights, and I am familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I am also familiar with my statutory right to damages if you conduct your stewardship of my personal information in a manner inconsistent with the clear dictates of the FCRA.

As such, I have already documented the errors you have made, and I will continue to do so. You must conduct your business not only in a manner that is convenient and economical for you–but also in a manner that comports with the FCRA. And, if you wish to farm out your responsibilities to CSC Credit Services, I will still expect that you meet the timelines imposed by the FCRA.

I look forward to receiving the description of the investigation procedure.

Yours truly,

Larry David

For the purposes of verification only, and not for correction, my personal information appears below: Larry David, 12/20/1984, 040-55-5555Current address: xxxxxxxxxxxxPrevious address: xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Method of Verification – Credit Repair Device

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At least one major credit repair website touts “Method of Verification” as a “secret credit repair tool.” Well, not exactly. Method of Verification, or “MOV,” refers to a statutory right that consumers enjoy to demand that a credit reporting agency (transunion, equifax, etc.) supply upon request the method of verification when a consumer asks that an entry on their credit report be reinvestigated. MOV is powerful, though, but as we’ll see, you’ll need to push pretty hard to get the CRAs to honor your request.

To truly understand MOV, lets take a step back. A consumer enjoys the right to demand that a credit reporting agency reinvestigate incorrect information that appears on the consumer’s credit report. We discussed this and supplied a tried-and-true sample letter for credit repair. This right, as well as a demand made pursuant to the right, is abreviated as a demand to “confirm or delete.”

CRAs, being corporations that must turn a profit, hardly raise a finger when a demand for confirmation or delation is made–the CRAs don’t really investigate, they use a computerized system called eOscar that “verifies” the credit report entry without true human intervention. Essentially, the CRAs do just enough not to be sued for failing to follow the statute.

Following a confirmation by a CRA, the consumer does enjoy a little-known right: the right to request the method of verification undertaken by the CRA. The right is found in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Section 611. It states “A consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer a description referred to in paragraph 6Biii [the section requiring reinvestigation] by not later than 15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description.”

Is it magic? Well, it would be if the CRAs made a common practice of complying with the law. Most times the CRAs simply deny that they have a responsibility to provide the method of verification. The statute is plenty clear, though, and it’s always a good idea to make the request. Certainly, you’d need to make the MOV request before suing for non-compliance with the FCRA.

For a sample form, visit our Sample Method of Verification Letter.

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