Dispute Errors in Your Credit Report

An error in your credit report can affect things like buying a home or car, getting a job, or renting an apartment.

Stay on top of any errors by checking your credit report. It’s free from each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — once every 12 months and more frequently during the pandemic. Go to annualcreditreport.com for complete details.

If you find an error, dispute it with each credit bureau as well as the company that reported the information.

Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion all have online dispute functions; but you can start the dispute by letter or phone, too. Any communication should include:

• Contact information: name, address, phone number
• Each mistake you want fixed
• An explanation of why you are disputing
• Documents supporting your request
• The part of the report with the inaccurate information

If you are mailing the request, consider sending it certified with a return receipt so you have a record of when the credit bureau received it. Keep copies of everything you provide.

After you dispute, the credit bureau:

• Has 30 days to investigate.
• Will forward the evidence to the company that reported the information.
• Should include a notice about the dispute in your report.
• Must give you results in writing.
• Can stop the investigation if it is considered irrelevant. At that time, you can provide additional information.

It’s up to you to be sure the error is corrected and/or removed from your report.

• Continue monitoring to make sure inaccurate information is removed.
• Request a statement of the dispute be included in your credit file.
• Go to IdentityTheft.gov if you suspect the error is a result of identity theft.

File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint if it is not resolved.