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If your credit report contains information that is inaccurate or incomplete, federal law gives you the right to dispute it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends disputing the information with both the credit reporting company and the company that furnished the information.
Step 1: Get and review your reports
Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the authorized source for free reports from the nationwide credit reporting companies. Review each report because an error may appear on one bureau’s file but not another.
Step 2: Identify the exact error
Common errors include:
- accounts that are not yours,
- wrong late-payment history,
- closed accounts shown as open,
- duplicate debts,
- incorrect balances or credit limits,
- incorrect dates, and
- identity information belonging to another consumer.
Step 3: Gather supporting documents
Useful documentation can include statements, payment confirmations, account letters, identity records, court documents, or correspondence showing why the reported information is wrong. Send copies, not irreplaceable originals.
Step 4: Dispute with the credit reporting company
CFPB guidance says to clearly identify each disputed item, explain why it is wrong, request correction or removal, and include supporting documents. If mailing a dispute, you can use certified mail and keep delivery records.
Step 5: Dispute with the furnisher
A furnisher is the company that supplied the information, such as a bank, lender, landlord, or debt collector. CFPB says furnishers generally must investigate and respond to qualifying disputes within 30 days after receiving them.
What happens if the information is wrong?
If an investigation finds that information is inaccurate or cannot be verified, it must be corrected or removed as required. Furnishers that correct information must notify the credit reporting companies to which they reported it.
What if the dispute is rejected?
If you disagree with the result, CFPB says you can ask the credit reporting company to include a statement of dispute in your file. You may also submit a CFPB complaint when appropriate.
Identity theft is different
If the error comes from identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. Identity-theft disputes can involve additional rights and documentation.
Avoid credit-repair scams
CFPB warns that accurate negative information generally cannot be removed simply because it is unfavorable. Be cautious of anyone promising to erase accurate information or guarantee a specific credit-score increase.
Keep a dispute file
Save:
- the credit report showing the error,
- your dispute letters or online confirmations,
- supporting documents,
- mail receipts,
- responses, and
- the corrected report if the dispute succeeds.
Continue learning
Read How to Read a Credit Report and How Credit Scores and Credit Reports Work.
Sources & methodology
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