How to dispute an error on your credit report

If you’ve discovered an error on your credit report, you’re not alone: A recent Consumer Reports study found that 44 percent of people had errors on their reports. Some credit report errors are relatively minor, like a typo in your name or address. But some errors are more significant and can leave you with an unfairly low credit score — which could make it harder to get the loans or credit cards you want.

Whether the errors you’ve found on your credit report are minor or major, you have the right to get them fixed.

Causes of credit report errors

Lenders and credit bureaus work hard to ensure their data is accurate, but errors can occur for many reasons. Sometimes, they’re caused by data entry errors made by the lender, such as mistakenly marking an on-time payment as late. In other cases, the credit bureaus mix up two people with similar names or Social Security numbers. Identity theft is another possible cause of errors.

When you’re looking at your credit report, keep an eye out for these common errors:

• Accounts that don’t belong to you
• Accounts that list you as the owner, when you are an authorized user
• Closed accounts reported as open, or vice versa
• Incorrect credit limit of an account
• Incorrect current balance of an account
• On-time payments wrongly reported as late
• The same debt listed more than once
• Wrong name, phone number or address

To spot these errors, it’s important to review your credit report at least once a year. You can get a free copy from each of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Not all errors affect your credit score. Small errors like a wrong middle initial or workplace won’t cost you money, but it’s a good idea to dispute them to ensure your file is accurate.

Negative information vs. legitimate errors

Negative information — also known as a derogatory mark — is accurate information that shows lenders you didn’t pay back a loan as agreed. Negative information lowers your score and might affect your chances of getting approved for new credit. Examples of negative information include:

• Accounts sent to collections
• Bankruptcy
• Charge-offs
• Foreclosure
• Late payments (30 days or more)
• Missed payments

If the negative information on your report is true, you typically can’t dispute it. However, past credit mistakes won’t follow you forever. They will generally come off your credit report within seven years (or 10 years in the case of Chapter 7 bankruptcy).  Be skeptical of companies that guarantee they can get rid of negative information sooner, as this is a warning sign of a credit repair scam.

If old negative information is still showing up on your credit report after it should have been removed, you can file a dispute to correct the issue.

Ways to dispute errors on your credit report

When you’re ready to dispute the errors on your credit report, you have three main options: filing a dispute by mail, online or by calling the credit bureaus. The right option mostly comes down to your preferences.

File your dispute by mail

Each of the credit bureaus allows consumers to file disputes by mail. The credit bureaus have dispute forms that you can download and complete:

• Equifax dispute form
• Experian dispute form
• TransUnion dispute form

If you prefer, you can also write a letter. Be sure to include your full name and address, the details of the mistake you want fixed and an explanation of why it’s an error. If possible, include copies of documents that support your dispute.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a sample letter you can use as a template. Edit the information in brackets to customize the letter to fit your situation.

Whether you choose to use the credit bureau’s dispute forms or your own letter, it’s a good idea to send it by certified mail so you have proof that the credit bureau received your dispute. Here are the mailing addresses for each credit bureau:

TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Experian
P.O. Box 9701
Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30348

File your dispute online

Another option is to file your dispute online. For many people, this will be the easiest and fastest way to file a dispute.

Some issues can’t be disputed online. For example, Experian warns you might need to talk with a specialist on the phone to resolve errors with your name or address. You may also need to dispute errors from identity theft by phone or mail.

Once you’ve filed the dispute, you can check its status online. The online submission portals are available on the following pages:

• Equifax online dispute 
• Experian online dispute 
• TransUnion online dispute 

Call the credit bureaus

You can also file a dispute with each of the main credit bureaus by phone. Filing by phone might be the best option if you need a dispute specialist to help you with the process. All three credit bureaus have phone numbers you can call:

• Equifax: (866) 349-5191
• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• TransUnion: (800) 916-8800

Steps to correct credit report errors

Credit report errors can be fixed, but if you have multiple errors on your report, it may take time and patience. Typically, you’ll need to take the following steps to dispute an error you’ve found on your credit report:

1. Gather evidence. When you file your dispute, you may need to provide proof that a mistake was made. Acceptable proof could include copies of billing statements, letters from creditors, or a police report if the errors are the result of identity theft.
2. Contact the credit bureau(s). Decide whether you’ll make your best case by letter, online submission portal or over the phone, then contact each credit bureau that’s reporting the error. Follow the relevant bureau’s guidelines to improve your chances of success.
3. Wait for the credit bureau to investigate. The bureau will contact the creditor who reported the information. The creditor will investigate to determine whether the information it reported was accurate and then notify the credit bureau.
4. Review the results. Once the investigation is complete, the credit bureau will notify you of the outcome in writing. If you were successful, you’ll also receive an updated copy of your credit report.

How a credit report dispute can affect your credit score

While disputing credit report errors is a common tactic for people hoping to boost their credit score, filing a dispute does not guarantee your credit score will go up. Successful disputes can cause positive, negative or no effects on your credit scores:

• Score improvements: Errors related to debt could leave you with a score that’s unfairly low. Disputing incorrect late payments, past-due accounts, settled debts or accounts in collections could improve your score.
• No score changes: Some types of errors don’t affect your credit score, so you won’t see a change after the mistake is corrected. Corrections in personal information, like the spelling of your name or address, won’t change your score unless they were incorrectly tied to someone else’s account.
• Score reductions: Any error in your favor that you correct could hurt your score. For example, removing an incorrect or duplicate account could decrease your credit score if it shortens the length of your credit history or raises your credit utilization.

How long it takes to fix errors on your credit reports

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus have only 30 days to complete an investigation after receiving your dispute, and a further five days to notify you of its findings. If you supply additional information during the 30 days — like bank statements or letters from creditors — the credit bureau has another 15 days (45 days total) to complete the investigation.

When a credit bureau corrects incorrect or incomplete information, the changes don’t take effect right away. Equifax says the updates can take up to 30 days. If you need the changes to take effect more quickly (like if you are applying for a mortgage), your lender might offer a rapid rescore. A rapid rescore is a way to update your report quickly, typically within three to five business days.

When to work with a credit repair agency

If you find the credit repair process confusing or too time-consuming, you don’t have to do it alone. Credit repair companies can help you dispute the errors on your credit report.

There are many advantages of working with credit repair agencies. These services can help you save time and effort, and disputing errors on your report may help you improve your score. However, credit repair agencies typically charge fees for their services, so consider the costs when deciding if it makes sense to get professional help.

Unfortunately, some credit repair offers are scams. To protect yourself, avoid companies that pressure you to pay up front, refuse to give you a contract or make promises that sound too good to be true. No one can remove accurate negative information from your file or guarantee you an excellent credit score.

Next steps

Credit report errors are common, and some errors hurt your credit score. Request a copy of your credit report from each of the three bureaus, then carefully check the reports for errors. If you see an account you don’t recognize, a late payment you made on time or any other error, contact the bureaus to get the problem fixed.

If you want help cleaning up your credit report, choose a reputable credit repair company to file disputes on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions

• Are there any downsides to disputing a credit report error?

  Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to dispute errors on your credit report without being penalized for it. However, fixing an error can sometimes lower your credit score. That can happen if the error made your score higher than it should have been.
  

• Why are my Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports different?

  The credit bureaus operate independently and get their information from different sources. Each lender, bank or credit card company chooses which credit bureaus to report your information to. That means an account might show up on just one or two of your reports, rather than all three.
  

• What should I do if my dispute is rejected by the credit bureaus?

  When your dispute is rejected, you have a few options. If additional information strengthens your case, you can resubmit the dispute with the new evidence. If that doesn’t work, you can also contact the creditor directly to try to resolve the issue.
  

• What are my rights if a credit report error can’t be resolved?

  If you have an unresolved dispute, you can ask the credit bureau to add a summary of the dispute to your file. When a potential lender requests your credit report, they will see the statement and may consider it when evaluating your creditworthiness.