Consumers have the right to dispute the accuracy of information about them reported
to credit bureaus, including information reported by SSA. This will most likely occur
after the debtor has received a copy of their report and sees that information reported
by SSA has been posted to the report. The consumer can dispute either the amount or
the fact of the debt. In some cases, consumers will dispute the accuracy by contacting
the credit bureaus directly.
When the credit bureau is notified by the consumer of the dispute, it will contact
SSA and request that we verify our records of the debt. The contact will occur via
an online system called the Automated Consumer Dispute Verification (ACDV) system,
which links the credit bureaus with SSA. (Currently, the ACDV process is handled by
the NEPSC.)
Under the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we have 30 days to respond
to the dispute or the debt is deleted from the credit report. In most cases, SSA need
only verify the fact or amount of the debt on the SSR and notify the credit bureau
via the online program that the debt is correct as reported.
IMPORTANT: Do not process the consumer dispute as a request for reconsideration of the fact or
amount of the debt. Requests for reconsideration of the fact or amount of the debt
must be made directly to SSA and should be handled as described in SI 02220.012D.6.b.