# Dispute and correspondence evidence organizer

**Private working worksheet — not an official government form.** Use this organizer to preserve facts and copies for one issue. It does not send anything, prove a claim, or replace a letter, report, or response to a lawsuit.

**Opened:** [Date organizer opened]  
**Your name:** [Your name]  
**Your mailing address:** [Your mailing address]  
**Matter type:** [Matter type]  
**Recipient:** [Recipient name]  
**Verified address or portal:** [Verified recipient address or portal]  
**Reference (last four or other non-sensitive identifier only):** [Reference]  
**Reporting company, furnisher, or collector:** [Reporting company, furnisher, or collector]  
**Report, notice, or communication date:** [Report, notice, or communication date]

## 1. Classify the issue before acting

**Credit-report error (FCRA track):** If the issue is an item on a consumer report, identify the consumer reporting company and, if known, the furnisher that supplied the information. Preserve the report page, circle or otherwise identify the precise item on your own copy, and state why it is inaccurate or incomplete. A correction request is not a promise that accurate negative information will be deleted.

**Consumer debt-collection correspondence (FDCPA track):** If a debt collector contacted you about a personal consumer debt, preserve the validation notice and the date received. The notice may give a time-sensitive written-dispute option. This worksheet is not itself a dispute, validation request, contact preference, or cease-contact notice. Verify the notice and recipient before choosing any next step.

**Identity records:** If you genuinely suspect identity theft, use this worksheet as a **checklist only**. Do not label yourself a wrong person or identity-theft victim unless that is true. It is not an affidavit, FTC Identity Theft Report, or police report. For reporting and recovery guidance, use [IdentityTheft.gov](https://www.identitytheft.gov/).

## 2. Issue and requested action

**Exact issue, facts, and supporting reason:**  
[Issue summary]

**Action requested or next step to evaluate:**  
[Action requested or next step]

Write facts, not conclusions. Record what you received, what you believe is wrong, the date it happened, and what document supports each point. If a deadline appears on a notice, calendar it from the actual notice and confirm the date; do not rely on a generic timeframe. If you later draft a separate letter, review it before sending and follow the recipient's current instructions.

## 3. Copies and evidence inventory

**Copies kept or included (document name — date — source — what it supports):**  
[Evidence inventory]

Keep the original documents in a safe place. Send or upload copies only, unless the verified recipient specifically instructs otherwise. Do not include a full Social Security number, full account/card number, birth date, password, or unrelated sensitive records. A recipient may request identity or report documents through an offline or secure process; verify that process before sharing documents.

## 4. Communication, delivery, and follow-up log

**Log each contact and proof of sending or delivery:**  
[Communication and delivery log]

For every entry, note the date and time, method (mail, portal, phone, email, or text), the person or company, a neutral summary, and the next date to check. For mailed items, retain the final packet copy, mailing receipt, tracking number, and delivery or return-receipt evidence. For online submissions, retain the confirmation page or number and a copy of the content submitted.

## 5. Review notes

- Confirm that the recipient and address or portal are current and correct; do not assume an old address is valid.
- Keep this worksheet, your copies, proof of delivery, and all responses together.
- A timely written consumer-debt dispute may have specific collection consequences, while an untimely request may not; verify the notice, facts, and applicable rules.
- A cease-contact request does not cancel a debt or stop lawful notices, a lawsuit, or response deadlines. Contact preferences are different from a full cease-contact request.
- If hardship is relevant, it is generally a discretionary discussion, not a settlement contract. Do not ignore court or payment deadlines; an acknowledgment or payment on an older debt can affect limitation issues depending on law.

**Sources consulted:** CFPB, [What can I do if a debt collector contacts me about a debt I already paid or don't think I owe?](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-can-i-do-if-a-debt-collector-contacts-me-about-a-debt-i-already-paid-or-dont-think-i-owe-en-1403/); CFPB, [How do I dispute an error on my credit report?](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/); FTC, [Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/disputing-errors-your-credit-reports).

**Review before use.** This educational worksheet is not legal representation, a legally compliant contract, or an automatic submission system.

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