Disputing Errors
What to Do After a Dispute Is Verified: Method of Verification Requests
If a credit bureau verifies a disputed item, you can ask how it was verified. Here is what the FCRA says and what to do next.
Updated · 5 min read
When a dispute comes back "verified"
A verified result means the furnisher confirmed the information to the bureau. It does not necessarily mean your documents were reviewed in depth. If you still believe the item is inaccurate, you have options.
Your right to a description of the procedure
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(6)(B)(iii) and (a)(7), you can ask the bureau for a description of the procedure it used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information, including the business name, address, and phone number of any furnisher contacted, if reasonably available.
The bureau must provide this description within 15 days of receiving your request.
Other follow-up steps
- Send a new dispute with additional evidence you did not include the first time
- Dispute directly with the furnisher, attaching your supporting documents
- Add a brief statement of dispute to your credit file
- Submit a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint
- Consult a consumer protection attorney if you believe the law was violated
Keep everything organized
Keep copies of every letter, delivery receipt, and response. A clear timeline of what you sent and what you received is valuable if you escalate a dispute.
Common questions
- Can I dispute the same item again?
- Yes, especially if you have new information. A bureau may decline to reinvestigate a dispute it considers frivolous or irrelevant, such as one that repeats a prior dispute without new information, but it must tell you why.