A statement of dispute is a short note, usually up to 100 words, that you can add to your credit file when a bureau's investigation doesn't resolve your dispute. The bureau must flag the item as disputed in later reports and include your statement or a clear summary of it.
Also called: consumer statement, statement of dispute, 100-word statement, dispute statement, consumer comment
What it means
If you dispute an item and the bureau keeps it, you can add your side of the story to your file. That note is a statement of dispute, sometimes called a consumer statement. Lenders, landlords, and others who later pull your report will see that you dispute the item and what you said about it.
A statement doesn’t remove or correct anything. It’s a backstop, not a fix.
Where it comes from
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(b), if a reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, you may file a brief statement explaining it. The bureau may limit it to 100 words if it helps you write a clear summary. The FTC’s 2011 staff report says the 100-word limit applies to each disputed item, so you can write one statement per item.
Under § 1681i(c), unless the bureau has reasonable grounds to think the statement is frivolous or irrelevant, every later report containing the item must clearly note that you dispute it and include your statement or a clear and accurate summary. The FTC report says just telling the reader that a statement is on file is not enough.
Under § 1681i(d), you can ask the bureau to send your statement to recent recipients of your report. That covers anyone who got it for employment in the past two years, or for any other purpose in the past six months. The FTC’s consumer guidance notes there may be a fee.
The FTC report also says a bureau doesn’t have to accept a statement that only explains why you fell behind, like an illness or layoff, without disputing accuracy. It may still choose to include one.
Common problems
- The statement never appears on later reports.
- The bureau shortens it into a summary that loses the point.
- The statement stays after the item is corrected or deleted and no longer makes sense.
How to write one
Keep it factual and specific: name the account, say what is wrong, and say what you have that proves it, for example “Paid in full on this date; creditor letter on file.” Avoid opinions. Ask the bureau to send it to recent report recipients if a recent application was affected.
When it can be an FCRA violation
A bureau that leaves out your statement, or doesn’t mark the item as disputed, may violate § 1681i(c). Separately, a furnisher that knows you dispute an item and keeps reporting it without noting the dispute may violate § 1681s-2(a)(3).
If your dispute statement or dispute notation is missing from your report, FCRA Attorneys offers a free case review, and you pay no fee unless we win.
Related
- Reinvestigation
- XB code (account disputed)
- XH code (previously disputed, now resolved)
- Frivolous or irrelevant dispute
- Method of verification
- Special comment code
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
- How to Write a Credit Report Dispute Letter That Gets Investigated
- Dispute letter builder
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, procedure in case of disputed accuracy (Cornell LII)
- FTC, 40 Years of Experience with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (2011)
- FTC, Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
Updated November 2026. This glossary is written by FCRA Attorneys from public sources. It is general information, not legal advice, and is not affiliated with any credit bureau or industry association.