We developed a set of three consumer law forms that can be used as standalone letters or work together as a package to help older adults who have been victims of financial exploitation or identify theft:

• Letter to a creditor to request debt forgiveness when a bill is owed
• Letter to a creditor to dispute a charge from a bank or company
• Letter to a credit bureau to dispute an item on a credit report

Below are links to each form and instructions to help you use them.
 

Debt Forgiveness

This free program can create a letter to ask for debt forgiveness. You can use this letter when you owe a bill and you need to ask for debt forgiveness.

To get started, click here: Ask for Debt Forgiveness

Who can use this program?

• If you are behind in a bill and you know you can't pay it.
• If you are on Social Security and that is your only source of income. If this is your situation, we encourage you to seek help from legal aid.

What happens if I send this letter?

• The credit/collection agency will contact you to let you know they will stop asking you for money. They might take other legal steps.
• If they stop asking you for money they can still take you to court to pay. If you get a document called a "summons," which is a demand to appear in court on this matter, please contact your local legal aid agency and tell them about this letter. To find your local legal aid agency, please visit lawhelp.org
• If your income is from Social Security, please contact your local legal aid right away. If your local agency can't help you, ask for a referral to another attorney or agency that maybe able to assist you. If you go to court, show this letter to the judge.

What do I need to complete this form?

• A copy of the bill
• Your account number and the amount of debt you are asking to forgive
• The name of the debt collector and address
• Information on why you can't pay the debt and about your personal financial conditions, including likelihood of securing employment or not.

Additional resources

• Contact your state Attorney General’s Office. You can find contact information here: www.naag.org
• To find out what creditors can and can't do, or if you are being harassed by creditors, see Debt Collection FAQs from the FTC
• Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide (PDF booklet from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and FDIC)
• If you are a Veteran, you may have additional protections. Please contact your local Veteran Affairs Department for additional help.
   

Dispute a Charge

This free program will help you create a letter that disputes a charge from a bank or company. Use this letter if you find a charge you don't recognize in your bills or bank statements.

To get started, click here: Dispute a charge

Who can use this program?

Anyone who finds a charge in their Bank statement or who receives a bill for something they did not buy or charge can use this free program.

For example, if you ordered something online and the item never arrived

Or if you bought something and it was broken, you can dispute the credit card charge

Or the merchant charged you the wrong amount

What happens if I send this letter?

After the Bank or company receives your letter they should STOP contacting you.

What if I keep getting billed after I send this letter?

If you receive more bills or calls and need help contact any of these offices and tell them you sent this letter.

To find your local legal aid office, go to lawhelp.org and click on "find help."

Additional Resources

• File a Federal Trade Commission complaint
• If you are a Veteran, you might have additional protections. Please contact your local Veteran Affairs office for additional help.
• Money Smart for Older Adults Resource Guide (PDF booklet from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and FDIC)

Dispute a Credit Report Error

This free program that helps you dispute an error in a credit report.

To get started, click here: Dispute a Credit Report

Who can use this program?

Anyone who finds an error in their credit report can use this free program, for example:

• If you are denied insurance due to an error on your credit report
• If you are denied a loan due to your credit score
• If you get your free annual credit report and you see errors in it

What happens if I send this letter?

After the credit bureau gets your letter, they need to investigate the items you question within 30 days. If you sent proof of mistakes on your record, the credit bureau will send that proof to the company that provided the inaccurate information. If that company agrees they made a mistake, the company must notify the three major U.S. credit bureaus and ask them to correct the information in your record.

You can also contact the company that made the mistake directly. You can use the Dispute a Transaction interview to help you prepare this letter. 

If a mistake is confirmed, the business has to notify all three credit bureaus, so they can correct the issue in your file. The credit bureaus need to notify you when it has been fixed. 

What do I need to complete this form?

• Which credit bureau your credit report came from
• The name of the debt collector and address
• Copies of any documents, payments, or bills that show the mistake.
• Your address, phone number, and social security number
• If you are a Veteran, you have additional protections. Please contact your local Department of Veterans Affairs for more information

Who are the Credit Bureaus?

There are three credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. Keep copies of everything you send, and consider sending your letter by certified mail with "return receipt requested" to ensure the letter is delivered. 

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256

Transunion Customer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Additional resources

• For more information on the steps for disputing errors on credit reports, visit the FTC's Consumer Information resource page. 
• To get your free credit report once a year, visit AnnualCreditReport.com

This free program can create a cover sheet for your protection order. When you put the cover sheet on top of your protection order, it makes it easier for the courts and police in other states to enforce your order.

Who can use this program?

You can use this program if:

• You have a valid protection order,
• You are a legal services provider or a pro bono lawyer, or
• You are an advocate for a client with a valid protection order.

This program is free. No one may charge anyone to use it. You must agree to these terms of use if you want to use this program.

Who should make a cover sheet?

It’s a good idea to make a cover sheet if you:

• Have a protection order now, and
• Plan on traveling or moving to another state.

Do I have to file the cover sheet in the other state’s court?

No. Just put it on top of your protection order. The cover sheet shows law enforcement that your protection order is valid in the new state.

What do I need to use this program?

You will need:

• A copy of your protection order (signed by a judge or other court officer).
• The date the court made your protection order/the judge signed the order.

Some states require a certified copy of the Order.
You can get a certified copy from the Clerk’s Office before you travel.

To get started, click here: Protection Order Cover Sheet - All States

This interview will help you prepare a free safety plan if you or a loved one are in an unsafe situation. The interview will take at least 20 minutes to complete, so we encourage you to register for an account on LawHelpInteractive.org, so you can save your answers and continue working on the plan later, if needed. 

Once you finish your safety plan, you can email it to yourself or to a support contact. 

Who can use this program?

Individuals can use this interview if they are:

• An older adult (over 55), and
• Are suffering from or afraid of physical, emotional, or financial abuse, or
• A friend, family member, or non-legal advocate helping an older adult.

This interview asks questions about the individual’s:

• Living situation, family and friends who are safe and can help
• Important documents and phone numbers
• Contact information for their local shelter and police department 
• Other information to help the individual create a plan tailored to their circumstances

To get started, click here: Personalized Safety Planning Tool for Seniors

Concerned you or a loved one may be a victim of elder abuse?

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be a victim of elder abuse, please visit the National Center On Elder Abuse "Get Help" section for more information and resources.

If you are concerned for your safety or at risk of domestic violence, you can also call, text or chat anonymously with the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-2334 TTY

LawHelpInteractive.org has a robust, plain language privacy policy and terms of use. We encourage you to review them before using the site. 

There are other simple steps that seniors can take to protect their safety and privacy when using online resources, whether from a home, mobile or public Wi-Fi connection. Below are helpful resources with information about safe surfing and avoiding scams:

• Online Security Tips and Resources from the FTC
   

• Scam and Identity Theft Resources from the FCC

  • Common scams

  • New scam alerts
     

• Technology Safety & Privacy: A Toolkit for Survivors from NNEDV
   

• If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline.  Call 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311