OwedifyThe Deadline Guide
Six disputes. Six deadlines. Six chances to act in time.
The deadlines
| The dispute | The clock | If you act in time |
|---|---|---|
| Credit report errors | The bureau has about 30 days once you dispute | Unverified items must be corrected or removed |
| Medical bills and denials | Your plan's denial letter sets the appeal window | Denials get overturned and bills corrected on appeal |
| Social Security disability | About 60 days from your denial notice, plus mailing | Many people denied at first are approved on appeal |
| VA decisions | 1 year from the date on your decision letter | Your effective date, your back pay, stays protected |
| Debt collectors | 30 days from the validation notice to dispute | Collection must stop until they prove the debt |
| Property tax assessments | Your notice sets it, often 30 to 60 days | Most prepared appeals win at least a partial cut |
The fine print
Where to find the date on each letter
Your deadline is printed on the paper that started this: the denial letter, the decision letter, the validation notice, the assessment notice. Read it twice. When a letter gives both a date and a number of days, the date controls, and mailed responses count when they are received, not postmarked, so act a week early.