Found a mistake on your credit report? Here’s how to dispute it
Found an error? File a credit report dispute with each bureau and with the company that reported it. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate.
In this article
Errors on credit reports are common enough that the Federal Trade Commission tells everyone to check theirs regularly. A wrong late payment or an account that isn’t yours can drag down your score and cost you a better rate, or a loan approval.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information and have it investigated. Here’s how a credit report dispute works, step by step.
Step 1: Pull all three reports
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site for free reports. You can get a free report from each of the three national bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, every week.
Check all three. Lenders don’t always report to every bureau, so an error can show up on one and not the others. Be cautious with other “free credit report” sites, some of which sign you up for paid services.
Step 2: Look for the common errors
Go through each report line by line. Common problems include:
- Accounts you don’t recognize, which could signal identity theft
- Payments marked late that you made on time
- Wrong balances or credit limits
- The same debt listed twice
- Accounts you closed still shown as open
- Wrong name, address or Social Security number
If you find accounts that aren’t yours, also visit IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s site for reporting identity theft and getting a recovery plan.
Step 3: Gather proof
Collect anything that supports your case: bank statements showing on-time payments, letters from the lender, account closure confirmations or a police or FTC identity theft report. Send copies and keep the originals.
Step 4: File a credit report dispute with each bureau
Each bureau lets you dispute online, by mail or by phone. For important disputes, many consumer advocates recommend mail with tracking so you have a record.
In your dispute:
- Identify yourself with your full name, address and date of birth.
- Name each item you’re disputing and explain why it’s wrong.
- Say what you want done, such as removing or correcting the item.
- Attach copies of your supporting documents.
Keep each dispute focused. One clear issue per item is easier to investigate than a long list of general complaints.
Step 5: Dispute with the company that reported it
The bank, card issuer or collection agency that sent the information to the bureau is called the furnisher. You can dispute directly with it too, in writing. If the furnisher corrects its records, it has to notify the bureaus.
What happens next
The bureau generally must investigate within 30 days. That can stretch to 45 days in some situations, such as when you send more information during the investigation. The bureau forwards your evidence to the furnisher, which has to review it and report back.
When the investigation is finished, the bureau must send you the results in writing. If your report changes, you’re entitled to a free copy of the updated report.
If the dispute is rejected
- Ask for details. You can request a description of how the investigation was done.
- Add a statement. You have the right to add a brief statement to your file explaining your side.
- File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Companies generally respond to complaints sent through the CFPB.
Once the error is fixed, give it a month or two to show up in your score. If you are shopping for a loan in the meantime, compare offers by APR. Then check your reports again, which is free, to make sure the correction stuck.
Keep a one-page dispute log
For each bureau, record the date filed, confirmation number, documents sent, expected response date and result. Save the original report with the disputed item highlighted and the corrected report that follows. If the same error returns, that paper trail is far more useful than trying to reconstruct an online dispute from memory.
Do not dispute accurate negative information simply because it hurts your score. Credit-repair companies cannot legally remove information that is accurate and timely; repeated generic disputes can also be treated as frivolous.
Sources
About this article. This is general information, not personal financial advice. Rates, fees and rules can change after publication, so confirm current terms with the lender. Read our editorial standardsand advertising disclosure. First published .
