Terms of Service
Effective date: [DATE]
Last updated: [DATE]
IMPORTANT NOTICE — READ BEFORE USE
DisputeDesk is a free, do-it-yourself software tool that helps you build dispute letters based on information you provide about items appearing on your own credit report. DisputeDesk does not:
- Provide legal advice
- Act as your attorney or legal representative
- Submit, mail, or send any letters on your behalf
- Contact credit bureaus, creditors, or collection agencies for you
- Negotiate with creditors or collectors
- Guarantee any specific outcome, score change, or deletion
- Operate as a "credit repair organization" under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (15 U.S.C. § 1679 et seq.)
You are the user. You generate the letters. You sign them. You mail them. You manage every step of the dispute process. The tool is a writing aid, nothing more.
If you want legal advice about your specific credit situation, consult a licensed attorney. The National Association of Consumer Advocates (consumeradvocates.org) maintains a directory of consumer-protection attorneys.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using DisputeDesk (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.
You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States to use the Service.
2. Description of the Service
DisputeDesk is a browser-based software tool operated by [YOUR LEGAL ENTITY NAME] ("we," "us," "our"). The Service:
- Provides letter templates based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and related federal consumer protection statutes
- Generates customized dispute letters using information you input
- Tracks deadlines and provides a workflow for managing your own dispute campaigns
- Stores your information only in your browser (via localStorage). We do not collect, transmit, or store your data on any server we control
The Service is provided free of charge. We reserve the right to introduce paid features in the future, in which case those features will be governed by separate terms presented at the point of purchase.
3. The Service Is Not Legal Advice
The Service provides general information and templates only. Nothing the Service produces — including any letter, suggestion, deadline, or recommendation — constitutes legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by your use of the Service.
Credit laws vary by state and change frequently. Your specific situation may involve legal issues, defenses, or risks that this Service cannot identify. Always consult a licensed attorney before taking action on any significant credit matter, especially if you are being sued, facing collection litigation, or have suffered identity theft.
4. The Service Is Not a Credit Repair Organization
DisputeDesk is not a "credit repair organization" as defined in the Credit Repair Organizations Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1679a(3). We do not, for compensation, provide any service to improve any consumer's credit record, credit history, or credit rating. The Service is a free software tool that helps you do this work yourself.
We make no representations about how using the Service will affect your credit score, credit report, or creditworthiness. Results vary. Many dispute attempts do not result in deletion or correction. There is no guaranteed outcome.
5. Your Responsibilities
You agree that:
- You will only dispute information you have a good faith basis to believe is inaccurate, unverifiable, outdated, duplicate, the result of identity theft, or otherwise improperly reported
- You will not use the Service to dispute information you know to be accurate
- You will not submit false statements, forged documents, or fabricated identity theft reports
- You will personally review every letter the Service generates before signing or mailing it
- You will sign every letter in your own name
- You are solely responsible for all decisions about what to dispute, what to mail, and how to respond to bureau or creditor communications
- You will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws when using the Service
Submitting a false dispute can result in legal liability under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (false statements), 18 U.S.C. § 1341 (mail fraud), and state consumer protection laws.
6. Data Storage and Privacy
All information you enter into DisputeDesk is stored locally in your web browser using the browser's localStorage feature. We do not have access to this data. It does not leave your device unless you explicitly export it.
If you clear your browser data, use private/incognito mode, or switch browsers or devices, your information will be lost unless you have exported a backup.
See our Privacy Policy for more details.
7. Intellectual Property
The Service, including its design, code, layout, letter templates, and instructional content, is owned by [YOUR LEGAL ENTITY NAME] and is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.
You may use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:
- Copy, modify, or redistribute the Service or its underlying code
- Reverse engineer the Service
- Use the Service or any output to operate a commercial credit repair business
- Use the Service to provide credit dispute services to third parties for compensation
- Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
Letters generated by the Service using your information are yours to use, sign, and send for your own personal credit disputes.
8. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:
- The Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
- The letter templates will achieve any particular legal or financial outcome
- The information in the Service is current or accurate (credit laws and bureau addresses change)
- The Service is appropriate for your specific legal situation
YOU USE THE SERVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
9. Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, [YOUR LEGAL ENTITY NAME] AND ITS OWNERS, OPERATORS, EMPLOYEES, AND CONTRACTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY:
- Direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages
- Loss of credit score, credit access, employment, or financial opportunity
- Adverse legal action, judgment, or liability arising from your use of the Service
- Damages exceeding $100 in the aggregate
This limitation applies whether the claim is based on contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other legal theory, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so portions of this section may not apply to you.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless [YOUR LEGAL ENTITY NAME] and its owners, operators, employees, and contractors from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:
- Your use of the Service
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any law or third-party right
- Any letter, statement, or dispute you submit using letters generated by the Service
11. Changes to the Terms
We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
12. Termination
We may suspend or terminate access to the Service at any time, for any reason, without notice.
You may stop using the Service at any time. Clearing your browser data will delete all locally stored information.
13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of [YOUR STATE], without regard to its conflict of law principles.
Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Service will be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court.
Class action waiver: You agree that any dispute will be brought in your individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.
14. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
15. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service.
16. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at:
[YOUR LEGAL ENTITY NAME]
[YOUR BUSINESS ADDRESS]
Email: [YOUR SUPPORT EMAIL]
Acknowledgment: By using DisputeDesk, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Service.
This document is a starting draft and must be reviewed and customized by a licensed attorney with credit-repair regulatory expertise before commercial use. It does not constitute legal advice and is provided for informational purposes only.