How to Dispute Your Record with BustedMugshots

What BustedMugshots Does

Mugshot and arrest record sites publish booking photos and arrest information scraped from law enforcement agency websites. Many of these sites charge fees for removal, though you may have legal options to compel removal under consumer protection laws and the FCRA if the record has been expunged, sealed, or dismissed.

Dispute Contact Information

Use the following contact information to send your FCRA dispute to BustedMugshots. The recommended method is email, but sending via certified mail in addition to any other method is recommended to preserve your legal rights.

How to File an FCRA Dispute with BustedMugshots

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute any information in your consumer file that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or should not be reported. Here is the step-by-step process for disputing your record with BustedMugshots.

1. Step 1. Gather your documentation: a copy of your court order (expungement, sealing, dismissal, or set-aside), a government-issued photo ID, and any case disposition paperwork. The more specific your documentation, the faster the investigation.
2. Step 2. Write a dispute letter that identifies the specific record you are disputing, explains why it is inaccurate or should not be reported (e.g., "This record was expunged by court order on [date]"), and requests correction or deletion. Include your full name, date of birth, and current address so the company can locate your file.
3. Step 3. Send your dispute letter and documentation via email. Consider also sending a certified mail copy to preserve your litigation rights — some companies' online portals include arbitration clauses in their terms of service.
4. Step 4. The company has 30 days from receiving your dispute to complete their investigation. Under 15 U.S.C. Section 1681i, they must either verify the accuracy of the reported information, correct it, or delete it. If they cannot verify it, they are required by law to remove it.
5. Step 5. If the company does not respond within 30 days, or responds but refuses to correct an inaccurate record, you have several options: file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, consult a consumer protection attorney (many take FCRA cases on contingency), or contact your state attorney general's office.

Your Legal Rights Under the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates companies like BustedMugshots that compile and sell consumer information. It gives you specific, enforceable rights — these are not requests or suggestions. Companies that violate these rights face real legal consequences, including statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per willful violation, plus attorney fees.

The Bigger Picture: BustedMugshots Is One of 164+ Companies

Disputing your record with BustedMugshots is one step. But your arrest or criminal record data has likely been scraped and distributed across the private background check industry — a network of 164+ companies that independently maintain their own databases.

Filing a dispute with BustedMugshots does not automatically update other companies. Each company maintains its own database and requires its own dispute. People who go the fully DIY route typically spend 20 to 40 hours researching companies, writing individualized letters, tracking responses, and following up when the 30-day windows expire.

That said, this is absolutely something you can do yourself. The law is on your side. The FCRA gives you real leverage. The main obstacle is not complexity — it is time and organization.

Other Mugshot & Arrest Record Sites

These companies operate in the same category as BustedMugshots. If your record appears in one company's database, it may also appear in others.