Credit bureaus respond to consumer credit disputes via mail. They will either delete or verify the information. If the item is verified, it means the bureau is keeping that information on your credit file.

In paragraph number two of a credit bureau dispute response the bureaus encourage you to add a 100-word consumer statement to your report. This is where many people add a short essay on why they deserve credit.

People often mistakenly use the 100-word statement to explain some situation that led to their bad credit. For example, they may want to justify late payments with the loss of a job or a medical condition.

However, do not be misled by the "opportunity" to add a consumer statement to your credit report.

This "concession" by the credit bureaus is not a concession at all. In fact, the 100-word statement will only make matters worse for you.

People often send in statements like this: "I fell behind on my credit card bills, but I have since caught up. My boss laid me off from my job of 20 years. Even though I could not pay my bills, it was only a temporary situation and now I am current."

The unexpected loss of employment may sound like a reasonable explanation to be late once or twice on a credit card bill. Plus, I would give that person credit for catching up on her bills and staying current since the bad financial spell.

Credit bureaus really could care less that your inability to pay your bills was due to no fault of your own. They see things in black and white. You either paid your bills on time (according to the creditor) or you did not pay your bills on time.

Instead, the credit bureaus see somebody who isn't smart enough to have an emergency fund to cover basic minimum payments should something go wrong financially.

The 100-word statement also has additional hidden dangers. For instance, adding such a statement confirms your guilt. It is direct proof that you were late on those payments. Moreover, you put yourself on perilous footing should you decide to hire a credit correction law firm in the future.

The credit bureaus will ignore any future disputes on your behalf because you have already admitted guilt. There is no reason for them to conduct an investigation.

Finally, you have put yourself into a category of consumers that potential creditors avoid. Any potential creditor may avoid giving you credit out of fear that you will likewise default on payment should you run into a rough financial patch in the future.

If a creditor does not read your statement, then nobody will. Most applications are reviewed digitally and so the 100-word statement serves no purpose other than a weapon credit bureaus use against you.

Briefly, the 100-word statement is dangerous to your credit file. It serves no good purpose for the consumer whatsoever.