How to Dispute Your Credit Report (and Get Errors Fixed)

Quick answer

To dispute your credit report, send each bureau that shows the error a written dispute that names the item, says exactly what's wrong and includes copies of your proof. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the bureau must investigate — usually within 30 days — and correct or delete anything that's inaccurate or can't be verified.

Key facts

• Disputing is free. You can do it online, by mail or by phone with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
• Bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate (45 if you send more information during the investigation or dispute after getting your free annual report).
• Each bureau keeps its own file, so dispute with every bureau that shows the error.
• Information that's inaccurate, incomplete or can't be verified must be corrected or removed (FCRA § 611).
• You can also dispute directly with the company that reported the item (the furnisher).

Step by step

1. 1

   Get all three reports

   Download your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com (free weekly from all three bureaus). Each bureau may report different information, so review all three.

2. 2

   Mark every error

   Check personal details, accounts, balances, payment history, dates and inquiries. Write down the creditor, account number (last digits), the bureau, what's reported and what's actually true.

3. 3

   Gather proof

   Collect copies of statements, payment confirmations, letters from the creditor, a paid-in-full letter, or an identity theft report. Send copies, never originals.

4. 4

   Write a specific dispute

   One item per paragraph: identify it, state what's wrong ('this payment was made on time on March 3'), and ask for correction or deletion. Specific disputes get better investigations than generic ones.

5. 5

   Send it to each bureau reporting the error

   Online is fastest; certified mail with return receipt gives you a paper trail. Keep copies of everything you send.

6. 6

   Track the 30-day clock and read the results

   The bureau must send you the results within 5 business days of finishing, plus a free updated report if anything changed. Check that the fix appears on all three reports.

What you can dispute

You can dispute any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. The most common errors are:

• Accounts that aren't yours (mixed files or identity theft).
• Late payments that were paid on time, or the wrong number of days late.
• Wrong balances, credit limits or account status (for example, 'open' on an account you closed, or a debt discharged in bankruptcy still showing a balance).
• The same debt listed twice — for example by the original creditor and a collector, both showing a balance.
• Negative items older than the reporting limit (most are seven years from the first delinquency).
• Wrong personal information, such as an address you never lived at — often a sign of a mixed file.

What a good dispute letter includes

Your full name, current address, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number, so the bureau can find your file. A copy of a government ID and a utility bill helps if they ask for identity verification.

For each item: the creditor name, the account number (last digits are fine), what's being reported, what's wrong with it, and what you want done. Attach the evidence for that item.

Keep it factual and short. Avoid templates that dispute everything at once or use legal-sounding phrases you can't back up — bureaus can treat a dispute as 'frivolous or irrelevant' if it gives them nothing to investigate.

Online, mail or phone?

Online disputes are fast and you can upload documents. Some people prefer certified mail because it creates a dated paper trail and lets you write a fuller explanation. Phone disputes are quick but leave the least evidence of what you said.

Whichever you choose, save confirmation numbers, copies of letters and the bureau's responses. If you ever need to escalate, that record matters.

What happens during the investigation

The bureau forwards your dispute and documents to the company that reported the item (the furnisher). The furnisher must investigate and report back. If the information is inaccurate, incomplete or can't be verified, the bureau must correct it or delete it.

When it finishes, the bureau must send you the results in writing within five business days. If something changed, you get a free copy of your updated report. If the item was verified, you can ask how it was verified, including the name and address of the furnisher.

If the bureau says the item is verified

Don't send the same dispute again. Instead, add new information: more evidence, a clearer explanation, or a direct dispute to the furnisher. You can also add a short statement (up to 100 words) to your file explaining your side.

If you believe the bureau or furnisher didn't investigate properly, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Serious or repeated violations may justify talking to a consumer protection attorney; the FCRA lets consumers sue for willful or negligent violations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a credit report dispute take?

Usually up to 30 days. It can be 45 days if you send more information during the investigation or dispute after receiving your free annual report. The bureau must send the results within five business days after it finishes.

Does disputing hurt my credit score?

No. Filing a dispute doesn't lower your score. If an item is corrected or removed, your score may change because the underlying information changed.

Should I dispute online or by mail?

Both are valid. Online is faster; certified mail gives you a stronger paper trail and room to explain. Keep copies and confirmation numbers either way.

Can I dispute accurate negative information?

You can dispute anything you believe is inaccurate, but accurate, verifiable information can legally stay on your report for its full reporting period. Disputing accurate items you know are correct isn't a good strategy.

Do I need a credit repair company to dispute?

No. Anything a credit repair company can do, you can do yourself for free. Software can help you find errors and write clear letters, but the right to dispute is yours.

What if the error appears on only one bureau?

Dispute it only with the bureau that reports it. Each bureau maintains its own file.

Do it yourself, with help

Restore Your Credit lists every negative item from your 3-bureau report, flags possible errors and writes the dispute letters for you to review and send. Free account; plans from $39/month.

Related guides

• How to Remove Collections from Your Credit Report How collections get removed: validate the debt, dispute errors, ask about goodwill or pay-for-delete, and know when they fall off. What works and what doesn't.
• How to Remove Late Payments from Your Credit Report How long do late payments stay on a credit report? Up to 7 years — but inaccurate ones can be disputed and some creditors grant goodwill removals. Here's how.
• 609 Letter: What It Is, What It Isn't, and What Actually Works Section 609 of the FCRA gives you the right to see your credit file — not to delete accurate debts. What a 609 letter really does and the dispute that works instead.
• Credit Repair Step by Step: A Checklist You Can Follow A practical credit repair checklist: what to do in week 1, the first 30–45 days and the months after, with the records to keep and when to follow up.

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