ABA Family Legal Guide

Consumer Credit

Credit Records

Correcting Credit Mistakes

While I am trying to solve a billing problem, may a credit grantor threaten my credit rating?

Not because you fail to pay the disputed amount or related finance or other charges while you're trying to resolve a billing dispute. Once you have taken the steps described above by writing down your question and sending it to the credit grantor, the law prohibits your credit grantor from reporting the account as delinquent because of the disputed amount or related finance or other charges. Until the credit grantor answers your complaint, the law forbids it from taking any action to collect the amount in dispute. You must, however, continue paying any undisputed amounts.