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Dispute Letter
I need a dispute letter to contest an incorrect charge on my utility bill, clearly outlining the discrepancy, providing supporting evidence, and requesting a prompt resolution within 30 days. The letter should be formal, concise, and include my contact information for further communication.
What is a Dispute Letter?
A Dispute Letter is a formal written document you send to challenge or question specific issues with a business, service provider, or government agency in Belgium. It serves as your official record of disagreement and typically addresses billing errors, contract disputes, or service quality problems.
Under Belgian consumer protection laws, you have the right to contest issues through these letters, which must clearly state the problem, provide supporting evidence, and request specific remedies. Companies must respond within reasonable timeframes, usually 14-30 days, depending on the sector. Many Belgians use dispute letters as a first step before involving ADR services or filing complaints with the Federal Public Service Economy.
When should you use a Dispute Letter?
Send a Dispute Letter when you encounter serious problems with products, services, or billing that regular customer service channels haven't resolved. Common triggers include unexplained charges on invoices, defective products still under warranty, or services that don't match what was advertised or contracted.
Belgian consumer protection rules give you 14 days to dispute most transactions, though some sectors allow longer periods. Time matters - sending a Dispute Letter quickly creates a paper trail, preserves your legal rights, and often prompts faster resolution. It's especially important for financial services complaints, telecom disputes, and e-commerce transactions where Belgian law requires companies to acknowledge formal disputes.
What are the different types of Dispute Letter?
- Credit Card Dispute Letter: Used for contesting unauthorized transactions, billing errors, or merchant disputes with your credit card issuer.
- Dispute Credit Report Letter: Challenges incorrect information on your Belgian credit report, often sent to the National Bank of Belgium's Central Credit Register.
- Debt Collection Dispute Letter: Contests debt validity or collection practices under Belgian debt collection regulations.
- Hard Inquiry Removal Letter: Requests removal of unauthorized credit checks from your credit file, particularly important for maintaining creditworthiness.
Who should typically use a Dispute Letter?
- Individual Consumers: Write Dispute Letters to challenge billing errors, faulty products, or unsatisfactory services from Belgian businesses.
- Legal Representatives: Draft and review dispute letters for clients, ensuring compliance with Belgian consumer protection laws.
- Customer Service Departments: Receive and process dispute letters, coordinating with legal teams for appropriate responses.
- Financial Institutions: Handle credit-related disputes and maintain documentation for regulatory compliance.
- Consumer Protection Agencies: Review dispute letters when mediating conflicts between consumers and businesses.
- Business Owners: Respond to dispute letters and implement resolution procedures to maintain customer relationships.
How do you write a Dispute Letter?
- Documentation: Gather all relevant contracts, invoices, receipts, and communication records related to your dispute.
- Timeline: Create a chronological record of events, noting key dates and interactions with the company.
- Contact Details: Verify the correct recipient, including their name, title, and complete business address.
- Legal Requirements: Check Belgian consumer protection deadlines for your specific type of dispute.
- Evidence: Prepare copies of supporting documents, photos, or expert assessments.
- Platform Tools: Use our AI-powered platform to generate a legally compliant Dispute Letter template, ensuring all required elements are included.
- Review: Double-check all facts and figures before sending.
What should be included in a Dispute Letter?
- Personal Information: Your full name, address, and contact details as registered with the company.
- Account Details: Relevant account numbers, customer IDs, or transaction references.
- Clear Description: Specific details of the dispute, including dates, amounts, and nature of the problem.
- Legal Basis: Reference to relevant Belgian consumer protection laws or contract terms.
- Resolution Request: Clear statement of your desired outcome and resolution timeline.
- Supporting Evidence: List of attached documents with brief descriptions.
- Signature Block: Your handwritten signature, date, and place of signing.
- Documentation Notice: Statement confirming copies of supporting documents are retained.
What's the difference between a Dispute Letter and a Demand Letter?
A Dispute Letter differs significantly from a Demand Letter in both tone and legal implications under Belgian law. While both documents address conflicts, they serve distinct purposes and come with different expectations for resolution.
- Legal Purpose: Dispute Letters primarily seek clarification or correction of errors, while Demand Letters make specific claims for payment or action with legal consequences.
- Tone and Approach: Dispute Letters maintain a more collaborative tone, focusing on problem-solving. Demand Letters carry a more assertive, formal legal tone with explicit consequences.
- Timeline Requirements: Dispute Letters often follow consumer protection timelines (typically 14 days), while Demand Letters usually give recipients 7-30 days before legal action.
- Legal Escalation: Dispute Letters serve as initial communication steps, whereas Demand Letters often represent a final warning before court proceedings.
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