To dispute a credit report error, get your reports from all three bureaus, mark the exact mistake, and send a dispute with evidence to each bureau that shows it. Send a second dispute to the company that reported it (the furnisher). Filing is free. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate. Below we cover what is worth disputing, how to file, what to put in a letter, and what to do if the answer is no.
TL;DR
- Pull your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and compare them line by line. Dispute only what is wrong, outdated or not yours.
- Dispute with the credit bureau and with the furnisher. Fixing an error generally means contacting both.
- Be specific: circle the item, state what is wrong, attach proof, and say what you want done.
- Expect an answer in about 30 days (up to 45 in some cases). Keep copies of everything.
- Suspect identity theft? Start at IdentityTheft.gov instead of using a standard dispute letter.
Table of Contents
- What to dispute on your credit report
- Before you file: gather your evidence
- How to dispute with the credit bureaus
- Also dispute with the furnisher
- What to put in a dispute letter
- What happens after you file
- If the error stays on your report
- If you suspect identity theft
- Our perspective: fix what is wrong, then build what is next
- When help from a credit repair service makes sense
- Will your score go up after a dispute?
- Quick checklist
- FAQ
- Sources
What to dispute on your credit report
Not everything you dislike is an error. A late payment you really made late is accurate, even if it hurts your score. Dispute information that is wrong, incomplete or does not belong to you.
Common problems include:
- Wrong personal details: a misspelled name, an address you never lived at, or a wrong employer.
- Accounts that are not yours: a credit card or loan you never opened. The CFPB notes this can signal identity theft.
- Wrong payment history: a payment marked late when you paid on time, or a wrong date.
- Incorrect balances or limits: a balance that should be zero, or a credit limit that is too low or missing.
- Duplicate accounts: the same debt listed twice, sometimes once by the original creditor and once by a collector.
- Closed accounts shown as open, or accounts you closed that are not marked as closed by you.
- Old negative items that should have aged off.
USAGov has a helpful list of the types of errors to look for if you want a second checklist.
Check the report before you dispute
You can view your reports from each of the three bureaus once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, according to the CFPB. Look at all three. The bureaus do not share files, so an error can appear on one report and not the others. That is why a dispute with one bureau does not fix the other two.
Why it matters: your report can affect your chances to get a job, rent or buy a home and buy insurance, as the FTC explains. A mistake is worth the effort to fix.
Before you file: gather your evidence
A strong dispute is specific and documented. The FTC advises including as much detail as possible and copies of supporting documents. Vague disputes are the ones most likely to be turned away.
Collect:
- A current copy of the report from each bureau that shows the error.
- Proof of the correct facts: payment receipts, bank statements, a paid-in-full letter, a closure letter, court records, or a settlement agreement.
- Identity details: your full name, current address, and any other information the bureau asks for to verify who you are.
- Account details: the account name and number for each item you dispute, as they appear on the report.
- A note of what you want: delete the item, correct a date, update a balance.
Make copies. Never send originals.
How to dispute with the credit bureaus
You can dispute online, by mail or by phone. Online is usually fastest. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you the strongest paper trail, which matters if you later need to escalate. The CFPB lists these current routes:
| Bureau | Online | Phone or mail |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax | Equifax online dispute page | (866) 349-5191, or the number on your report; mailing address on Equifax's contact page |
| Experian | experian.com/disputes | Instructions for mail on the same page |
| TransUnion | dispute.transunion.com | Mail and phone details on TransUnion's dispute page |
These details come from the CFPB's dispute guide. Contact details can change, so check that page or the bureau's site before you mail anything.
Step by step
- Get your report and confirm the error shows up.
- Circle or highlight each disputed item on your copy of the report.
- Write your dispute (see the letter outline below) and attach evidence copies.
- Send it to each bureau that lists the error. If you use mail, choose certified mail with a return receipt.
- Save everything: your letter, enclosures, postage receipt and any confirmation numbers.
- Mark your calendar for 30 days after the bureau receives the dispute.
If you file online, save a screenshot or PDF of the confirmation and of everything you submit.
Also dispute with the furnisher
The bureau only compiles data. The business that supplied it, such as your bank, lender, collector or landlord, is the furnisher. According to the FTC, both the bureau and the furnisher are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information, at no cost to you. If the furnisher agrees the information is wrong or cannot verify it, it must notify all three nationwide bureaus to update your records.
This is called a direct dispute. Per HelpWithMyBank.gov, you can send a written notice to the furnisher at the mailing address on your credit report, or in a separate notice. Include the same evidence you gave the bureau.
Doing both at once is usually sensible. Disputing with the bureau triggers the bureau's investigation. Disputing with the furnisher puts the problem in front of the company that holds the original records.
What to put in a dispute letter
The FTC publishes a sample letter to credit bureaus that you can adapt, and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions has a sample dispute letter that follows the same pattern. The FTC says your letter should identify each disputed item clearly, state the facts, explain why you dispute it, and ask for removal or correction.
A workable outline:
- Your details: name, address, and date.
- The bureau's name and address.
- Opening line: say you are disputing inaccurate information in your file.
- Each item: the creditor name, account number, and what is wrong. Example: "The account shows a payment 60 days late in March. I paid on March 3. A bank statement is enclosed."
- The action you want: delete the item or correct it to a specific date, balance or status.
- Enclosures: a numbered list of the documents you attach, plus the marked-up report page.
- A request that they send you the results and an updated copy of your report.
Keep it short and factual. Leave out anger and long stories. One page is plenty for most disputes.
What happens after you file
The CFPB says a credit reporting company generally must investigate within 30 days of receiving your dispute. That can extend to 45 days in certain cases, such as when you send in new information during the investigation or file after getting your free annual report. After the investigation, the bureau has five business days to tell you the result in writing.
Three outcomes are common:
- Corrected or deleted. Get a fresh report and confirm the change on all three bureaus. If it was reported to only one, the others may still be fine.
- Verified as accurate. The furnisher confirmed the data. If you still believe it is wrong, you have next steps (below).
- Dismissed as frivolous. The FTC says a bureau that decides a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant must notify you, with the reason, within five business days. This often means you did not give enough detail. Resubmit with specifics and evidence. Your saved copies make that quick.
Tell past recipients
Once an error is fixed, you can ask the bureau to send notice of the correction to anyone who received your report for employment purposes in the past two years, or for any other purpose in the past six months, per the FTC. This helps if a lender or employer saw the wrong data.
If the error stays on your report
Do not give up after one round.
- Refile with better evidence. Address why the first response did not resolve it.
- Dispute directly with the furnisher if you have not already.
- Add a consumer statement. If the investigation does not settle things, you can ask that a statement explaining your side be added to your file. It will appear on future reports. The FTC notes bureaus may charge a fee to send that statement to past recipients.
- Escalate. The CFPB accepts complaints about credit reporting. Keep your certified mail receipts and copies, because this is when they matter.
- Talk to a professional if the stakes are high. A consumer protection attorney or a nonprofit credit counselor can advise if a bad entry is costing you a mortgage or a job. Legal rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act are federal, but the next step depends on your facts.
If you suspect identity theft
An account you never opened is different from a typo. The CFPB says that if you suspect identity theft, you should not rely only on a standard dispute letter. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to get an official Identity Theft Report, which gives specific legal protections for blocking fraudulent debts from your report. Then use that report in your disputes. Placing a fraud alert or freeze with the bureaus is also worth considering, and IdentityTheft.gov walks you through it.
If you want ongoing alerts for new accounts and inquiries, you can compare credit monitoring and identity protection services on our site.
Our perspective: fix what is wrong, then build what is next
We built All In One Credit to help people compare credit products independently, without promising outcomes. Disputes fit that approach. A dispute can correct a mistake. It cannot erase accurate information, and no one can guarantee a score change from it.
Here is how we think about the order of operations:
- Start with accuracy. Review all three reports. Dispute what is wrong yourself. The process is free and the law gives you the right to it, as the FTC explains.
- Be wary of promises. If a company guarantees to delete accurate negative items, treat that as a warning. The FTC has a consumer alert on fixing mistakes on your report that is worth reading first.
- Then look forward. Once the report is accurate, your goals decide the next move: a car loan, a mortgage, or lower rates. Payment history and balances shape most of the score, so see what affects your credit score.
- Compare before you pay. If you decide to use a product, look at pricing, what it reports and to which bureaus. Our guide to comparing credit-building products shows the criteria we use.
We may earn compensation when you click through to some featured providers. Read our financial disclaimer for details.
— Ashton
When help from a credit repair service makes sense
You do not need to pay anyone to file a dispute. Some people still prefer help because they have many items, limited time or complicated files. If that is you, we compare credit repair services side by side, so you can see what each one offers and costs before you decide. Start on our credit repair comparison page. Results are never guaranteed.
Once your report is accurate, you may want to add positive history. Our credit builder comparison and our guide on how long it takes to build credit are good next reads. If you pay rent, rent and bill reporting services are another option to compare.
Will your score go up after a dispute?
It can, if the error was dragging your score down, such as a false late payment or an account that is not yours. If the item was accurate or the dispute changes nothing, the score will not change. Scores also move for other reasons while a dispute is open, so do not expect a particular number.
Be careful with timing. If you plan to apply for a mortgage or auto loan, start disputes early enough to get results first. The 30 to 45 day window can be longer in practice if you need a second round.
Quick checklist
- Pulled all three reports
- Listed each error with the account number
- Gathered proof and made copies
- Circled the items on the report copies
- Sent disputes to each bureau, certified mail if mailing
- Sent a direct dispute to each furnisher
- Saved receipts and confirmations
- Set a reminder at 30 days
- Pulled new reports to confirm changes
FAQ
Does it cost money to dispute errors on my credit report?
No. Filing a dispute with a credit bureau or a furnisher is free. The FTC says both are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information at no cost to you. You never need to pay a company just to file a basic dispute.
Should I dispute online or by mail?
Both are allowed. Online is usually faster and easier, so save your confirmation. Certified mail with a return receipt creates a stronger paper trail, which is useful if you need to escalate later. Either way, keep copies of everything you send.
Do I need to dispute with all three bureaus?
Dispute with each bureau whose report shows the error. The bureaus keep separate files, so a correction at one does not automatically fix the others. Also dispute with the furnisher. If the furnisher confirms the data is wrong, it must notify all three nationwide bureaus.
What if the bureau says my dispute is frivolous?
It must tell you why within five business days. This usually means there was too little information. Resubmit with the account number, a clear description of the error and supporting documents. Your saved copies of earlier letters and receipts will make this faster.
Can I use a template for my dispute letter?
Yes. The FTC offers a sample letter you can adapt. Replace the generic text with your account details, a plain explanation of the error, the action you want and a list of enclosures.
Sources
- CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
- CFPB: How long does it take to repair an error on a credit report?
- CFPB: How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
- FTC: Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
- FTC: Sample Letter to Credit Bureaus Disputing Errors on Credit Reports
- FTC: Credit repair: Fixing mistakes on your credit report
- USAGov: Dispute errors on your credit report
- HelpWithMyBank.gov: How do I dispute information on my credit report?
- Wisconsin DFI: Credit Report Sample Dispute Letter