How to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report
You can dispute any information on your credit report that you believe is wrong. The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — are required by law to investigate disputes and remove or correct information that cannot be verified. You do not need to hire a lawyer or pay a company to do this; you can file a dispute yourself for free by mail, phone, or online.
The process typically takes 30 days from the date the bureau receives your dispute. During that time, the bureau contacts the company that reported the information (your creditor, lender, or debt collector) and asks them to verify it. If they cannot verify the account, the negative mark is removed. If they verify it, the information stays on your report.
Key Takeaways
- You can dispute inaccurate information directly with each credit bureau at no cost by mail, phone, or their online portal.
- The credit bureau has 30 days to investigate your dispute and contact the company that reported the information.
- Common errors worth disputing include accounts you did not open, wrong payment status, incorrect balances, and accounts that should have fallen off after seven years.
- If the bureau's investigation does not resolve the error, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or dispute directly with the creditor or debt collector.
- Disputing does not hurt your credit score, and removing inaccurate negative information can improve it over time.
What counts as an inaccuracy worth disputing
Start by reviewing your credit report from all three bureaus. You can get a free copy once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site run by the three bureaus. Look for accounts you do not recognize, wrong payment history, incorrect balances, accounts listed as open that you closed, or accounts that are still showing after seven years (the standard time they should fall off).
Common errors include a late payment marked on an account you paid on time, a balance that does not match your records, a duplicate account listed twice, or an account in your name that belongs to someone else (identity theft). You should also check for accounts you closed that are still listed as active, or accounts that show a higher credit limit than you actually have.
Do not dispute information just because you dislike it or because you owe the debt. Dispute only what you believe is factually wrong — a late payment you made on time, a balance that is incorrect, or an account that is not yours.
How to file a dispute with a credit bureau
Each of the three bureaus has its own dispute process. You can dispute with one bureau, all three, or just the ones showing the error on their report.
Equifax: Visit Equifax.com/personal/disputes or call 1-866-349-5191. You can also mail a dispute letter to Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241.
Experian: Visit Experian.com/disputes or call 1-888-397-3742. You can mail disputes to Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013.
TransUnion: Visit TransUnion.com/disputes or call 1-800-916-8800. You can mail disputes to TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022-2000.
Online disputes are usually the fastest route. You will need to create an account, upload or describe the inaccuracy, and explain why you believe it is wrong. Keep copies of everything you submit. If you mail a dispute letter, send it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof the bureau received it.
What to include in your dispute letter
If you choose to mail your dispute, include your name, address, date of birth, and account number (if you have it). Describe the account or item you are disputing, explain what is wrong with it, and state what you believe the correct information should be. For example: "This account shows a late payment in March 2022, but I have bank statements showing I paid on time. Please investigate and correct this error."
Attach copies (not originals) of any documents that support your claim — bank statements, payment confirmations, letters from the creditor, or proof that an account is not yours. Do not send originals; the bureau may not return them.
Keep a copy of your letter and all attachments for your records. If you dispute online, the bureau will provide a reference number; write this down. You will use it to track the status of your dispute.
What happens during the investigation
Once the bureau receives your dispute, they have 30 days to investigate. They contact the company that reported the information and ask them to verify it. The company has a set time (usually 30 days) to respond. If the company cannot verify the account or the specific detail you disputed, the bureau must remove or correct it.
During the investigation, the disputed item may remain on your report. Some bureaus will mark it as "disputed" so lenders know you have challenged it, though this does not prevent them from seeing the negative information. After the investigation closes, the bureau sends you a written result. If the information was removed or corrected, you will receive an updated credit report. If it was verified as accurate, you will be told that the dispute was not upheld.
If the bureau finds the information was inaccurate, they must also send a corrected report to anyone who received your report in the past six months (or two years if it was for employment purposes).
What to do if the dispute does not work
If the bureau's investigation does not remove the error, you have other options. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at ConsumerFinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB forwards complaints to the credit bureau and the company that reported the information, and you will receive responses from both.
You can also dispute directly with the creditor or debt collector that reported the inaccurate information. Send them a letter (certified mail) explaining the error and asking them to correct it or stop reporting it. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they must respond within 30 days. If they verify the information is wrong, they must tell the credit bureaus to update or remove it.
In some cases, you may want to add a statement to your credit report explaining your side of the dispute. This statement can be up to 100 words and will appear on your report when it is shown to lenders. Ask the credit bureau how to add a consumer statement if your dispute was not upheld but you still believe the information is wrong.
How disputing affects your credit score
Disputing an inaccuracy does not hurt your credit score. The act of filing a dispute is not recorded on your report and does not count as a hard inquiry. Your score may actually improve if the dispute results in the removal of negative information.
However, the negative item will likely remain on your report and continue to affect your score while the dispute is being investigated. Once the investigation closes and the item is removed, your score may take a few weeks to update, but it should improve over time as the inaccurate information ages and is no longer factored in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove an inaccuracy from my credit report?
The credit bureau has 30 days to investigate your dispute. If the company that reported the information cannot verify it, the bureau must remove it within that 30-day window. Your credit score may take a few additional weeks to update after the item is removed.
Can I dispute the same error multiple times?
You can dispute the same item again if you have new evidence or information. However, if you file multiple disputes about the same item without new information, the bureau may dismiss the dispute as frivolous. Always include new documentation or a clearer explanation if you dispute again.
What if the creditor verifies the information even though I believe it is wrong?
If the creditor verifies the information, you can file a complaint with the CFPB, dispute directly with the creditor, or add a consumer statement to your report. You can also dispute again if you gather additional evidence that proves the information is inaccurate.
Do I need to dispute with all three credit bureaus?
Only dispute with the bureaus that are showing the inaccuracy on their report. Check your free annual report from each bureau to see which ones have the error. If all three are showing it, you can dispute with all three, but you only need to dispute with the ones that have the mistake.
What if I find an account that is not mine — could it be identity theft?
Dispute the account with the credit bureau when ready. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov and contact the creditor directly to tell them the account is fraudulent. Keep copies of all correspondence and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your report.