Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
How to Dispute Items in a Credit Report
By Bianca Rodríguez Rojas MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
It can be nerve-racking to go through your credit report and suddenly find an error.
Having incorrect information in your credit report can affect your ability to get approved for a credit card, a loan or even get a job. However, there’s a way to dispute these errors and have them removed.
By law, you can dispute items in your credit report that are inaccurate or incorrect. To do this, you have to contact the credit reporting agency that’s reporting the error and provide information to support your dispute. You may also have to contact the company that reported the information to the credit agency.
Read this step-by-step guide to learn what to do and how to do it.
Steps to disputing items in your credit reports
The way to dispute items in your credit report is simple. Start by identifying the error, then contact the credit reporting agency, file your dispute and have the error removed.
You could hire a credit repair company to complete the process for you, but if you’d rather do it yourself here’s a simple guide you can follow:
Step 1: Identify the items you want to dispute
When you notice an error in one of your credit reports, first get a copy of your reports from the other major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and/or TransUnion). You can do this by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com and clicking on the “request your free credit reports” button and following the prompts.
Once you have all three reports, go over them to identify inaccurate or incorrect items. Some common errors include:
- Incorrect or inaccurate personal information (name, current and previous address, etc.)
- Incorrect or inaccurate account numbers, history or balances
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
- Duplicate accounts
- Incorrect or inaccurate account status (open accounts, closed accounts, charged-off, late payment, missed payment, etc.)
Additionally, verify that your name, alias, date of birth, phone number and current or past employers are all correct.
Step 2: Contact the credit bureaus to file your dispute
Once you have identified the errors in your report, you must file a dispute with the bureaus that list these errors in your credit file.
You can contact bureaus online, by phone or by sending a letter by mail. If you choose to mail in a letter, the Federal Trade commission (FTC) website advises that dispute letters should include:
- Your full name, address and phone number
- Every item you want to dispute
- An explanation of why the information is incorrect or inaccurate
- Copies of documents to support your dispute
- A copy of your report (with the errors highlighted or circled)
The FTC also suggests you send the letter by certified mail and pay for a “return receipt” so you have proof that the credit bureau received it.
Here’s each credit bureau’s contact information:
Equifax
Online: www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/
By mail: Download and fill Equifax’s dispute form, then mail it to:
Equifax Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
By phone: Call the phone number on your credit report or call (866) 349-5191, Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m ET, and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
Experian
Online: www.experian.com/disputes/main.html
By mail: Download and fill Experian’s dispute form, then mail it to:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
By phone: Call the number on your credit report or call (888) 397-3742.
TransUnion
Online: dispute.transunion.com
By mail: Download and fill TransUnion’s dispute form, then mail it to:
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
By phone: Call the number on your credit report or call (800) 916-8800, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.
Step 3: Contact the creditor that furnished the information
Bureaus get their information from creditors. You should, therefore, also contact the creditor and verify if they too have incorrect information under your name. If they do, you’ll also need to request a correction.
Similar to when you file a dispute with a credit bureau, in your request to creditors you must include:
- Your contact information (name, address and phone number)
- The item(s) you want to dispute, and why
- Copies of documents to support your dispute
- A copy of your report (with the errors highlighted or circled)
What happens after your dispute
After you file your dispute, the credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate disputed items and remove those that it finds are indeed errors. During this time, the bureau may contact you and request additional evidence to support your dispute.
When the bureaus are done with their investigation, they must notify you of the results in writing. Bureaus will also send the business or issuer the result of the investigation. If the business or issuer confirms the information is incorrect, it will notify the three major credit bureaus so they update the information in your file.
How to Dispute Items in a Credit Report FAQ
How do errors impact your credit score?
Errors impact your credit score because mistaken information on your report misrepresents your financial history and standing. Incorrect payment histories, accounts that don’t belong to you or debts listed as unpaid can lower your credit score, which can make it hard for you to get approved for credit or qualify for low interest rates. Errors could also affect your ability to get a job given potential employers run credit checks on job candidates.
Can I dispute credit report errors online?
Yes. All three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) offer users the option of submitting their dispute request online. Additionally, bureaus have a page on their website where you can upload supporting documents to substantiate your dispute.