Disputing Errors
How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report: A Step-by-Step Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of how to find potentially inaccurate information on your credit report, document it, and file a dispute with the credit bureaus.
Updated · 8 min read
Start by getting all three reports
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each keep their own file on you, and they do not always match. An error can appear on one report and not the others, so review all three.
You can get free reports from each bureau every week at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site authorized by federal law. Download the PDF versions so you have a dated copy of exactly what each bureau was reporting.
What counts as a potential error
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lets you dispute information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Common examples include:
- Accounts that do not belong to you, or that belong to someone with a similar name
- Incorrect balances, credit limits, or payment histories
- A paid or settled account still shown as unpaid
- The same debt listed more than once (for example, by the original creditor and a collector, both showing a balance)
- Incorrect dates, such as a date of first delinquency that would keep an item on your report longer than allowed
- Personal information that is wrong, such as addresses or employers you never had
Document each item before you dispute
A clear dispute explains exactly what is wrong and why. For each item, note the creditor name, the partial account number, what the report says, and what you believe is correct.
Gather anything that supports your position: bank statements, payment confirmations, settlement letters, or correspondence. Send copies, never originals.
Send your dispute to the bureau
You can dispute online, by phone, or by mail. Many consumers prefer mail sent by certified mail with return receipt, because it creates a dated paper trail of what you sent and when it was received.
Your letter should include your full name, address, date of birth, a description of each disputed item, the reason you are disputing it, and the correction you are requesting. Include a copy of the report with the items marked and copies of your supporting documents.
Consider disputing with the furnisher too
The company that reported the information (the "furnisher," such as a bank or collector) also has duties under the FCRA to investigate disputes and correct inaccurate information. Disputing directly with the furnisher can be useful when you have documents showing their records are wrong.
What happens next
The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate after receiving your dispute, or up to 45 days in some cases, such as when you send additional information during the investigation. It must forward your dispute to the furnisher and send you the written results.
If the information is found to be inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, it must be corrected or deleted. If it is verified as accurate, it can remain. Accurate, verifiable information is allowed to stay on your report, so the goal of a dispute is accuracy, not removal.
Common questions
- Does disputing hurt my credit score?
- No. Filing a dispute does not by itself lower your credit score. If an item is corrected or removed as a result, your score may change based on the updated information.
- Can I dispute information that is accurate?
- Disputes are meant for information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. A bureau can treat a dispute as frivolous if it lacks enough information to investigate, and accurate information can legally remain on your report.