How to Expunge a Bankruptcy
- 1). Order all three of your credit reports to see if Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are all still reporting the bankruptcy once 10 years have passed. The bureaus are independent businesses, so their data is often different. The bureaus run the AnnualCreditReport.com website as required by federal law to give you free yearly credit reports.
- 2). Write a letter to each of the credit bureaus that is still reporting your old bankruptcy. Explain that the 10-year reporting period is over and you want the bankruptcy expunged. Photocopy any court records or other information that proves the reporting time has passed and attach copies to each of your dispute letters.
- 3). Mail your letters and attached documentation to the appropriate credit bureaus. Each has a dispute address on its website. The bureaus also offer web pages for online disputes, but the FTC advises written disputes sent through certified mail as the most effective way to expunge incorrect data. The bureaus are legally allowed to take 30 days to process your complaints.
- 4). Review each credit bureau's response once they complete their dispute investigations. The bureaus should expunge your bankruptcy as long as the 10-year reporting period is really over. You will get explanations of the dispute results and up-to-date credit report copies showing erasure of the bankruptcy entries. Your bankruptcy no longer lowers your credit score or makes you look bad to lenders once is expunged.
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