How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report

Summary

You can dispute errors on your credit report directly with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at no charge. Each bureau accepts disputes online, by mail, and by phone. You’ll need to identify the item you’re challenging, explain why it’s wrong, and send copies of any supporting documents. The bureaus are generally required to investigate and respond under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Table of Contents

1. What credit report errors look like
2. Your right to dispute under the FCRA
3. Step-by-step: how to dispute with each bureau
4. What happens after you file a dispute
5. What to include in a dispute
6. Common dispute mistakes to avoid
7. When a dispute doesn’t resolve the issue
8. Related Articles
9. Frequently Asked Questions

1. What credit report errors look like

Not every problem on a credit report looks like an obvious mistake. Some errors are easy to spot — a balance that’s wrong by hundreds of dollars, or an account that was paid off years ago still showing as open. Others are subtler.

Here’s what to look for when you review your reports:

Personal information errors

• Wrong name, address, or Social Security number
• Someone else’s information mixed in with yours (sometimes called a “mixed file”)
• An old address listed as current

Account-level errors

• A payment marked late that you paid on time
• The same debt listed more than once (often happens after a debt is sold to a collection agency)
• An account balance that doesn’t match your records
• A credit limit listed lower than your actual limit
• An account you never opened — which can be a sign of identity theft

Status errors

• An account showing as open that you closed
• A bankruptcy or derogatory item that’s past the legal reporting period (generally seven years for most negative items, ten years for Chapter 7 bankruptcy)
• An account discharged in bankruptcy still showing an active balance

Before you dispute anything, get your reports. You can access free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Before you dispute, it helps to understand what you’re reading — see our guide on How to Read a Credit Report for a full walkthrough.

2. Your right to dispute under the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute information on your credit report that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. This right is free to use, and no third party is required.

Under the FCRA, when you submit a dispute:

• The credit bureau must generally investigate within 30 days (45 days if you submitted your reports through AnnualCreditReport.com).
• The bureau must forward your dispute — and any supporting documents you provide — to the company that originally reported the information (called the “furnisher”).
• If the furnisher can’t verify the information, the bureau must correct or delete it.
• The bureau must send you the results of the investigation in writing.

One point that comes up often: the FCRA does not require bureaus to remove information just because you dispute it. If the information is accurate and verifiable, it may remain on your report for the legally allowed reporting period. Disputing accurate information doesn’t make it go away.

For a fuller picture of your legal rights under this law, read What Is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?

3. Step-by-step: how to dispute with each bureau

Each bureau runs its own dispute process. You’ll file separately with each one that shows the error — an error at Equifax won’t automatically get corrected at Experian or TransUnion.

Equifax

1. Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute and create or log in to your myEquifax account.
2. Select the item you want to dispute and choose the reason that applies (e.g., “account paid in full,” “not my account,” “incorrect balance”).
3. Upload copies of any supporting documents.
4. Submit. Equifax will notify you of the results, usually by mail or through your online account.

You can also mail a dispute letter to: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374.

Experian

1. Go to experian.com/disputes/main.html.
2. Log in or verify your identity, then select the item to dispute.
3. Pick the dispute reason and upload your documentation.
4. Submit and note your confirmation number.

Mail disputes go to: Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013.

TransUnion

1. Go to transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit.
2. Create or log into your TransUnion account.
3. Select the item, provide the dispute reason, and attach documentation.
4. Submit.

Mail disputes go to: TransUnion LLC, Consumer Dispute Center, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016.

One thing that surprises people: you don’t have to dispute online. Mailing a dispute creates a paper trail, which some people prefer — especially when documentation is involved. Certified mail with return receipt gives you proof of delivery.

The FTC’s consumer guide on disputing credit report errors has sample dispute letters you can adapt.

4. What happens after you file a dispute

Filing is the beginning of a process, not the end.

Here’s the typical sequence:

1. Bureau acknowledges your dispute, either with an on-screen confirmation or a written letter.
2. Bureau contacts the furnisher — the creditor, lender, or collection agency that reported the item — and sends them your dispute details and documents.
3. Furnisher investigates and responds to the bureau. They’ll either verify the information, modify it, or confirm it can’t be verified.
4. Bureau updates your report based on the furnisher’s response. If the furnisher verifies the item as accurate, it stays. If they can’t verify it, the bureau must delete or correct it.
5. Bureau notifies you of the outcome in writing. If you requested it, they must provide a free copy of your updated report.

The full process can take up to 30 days (or 45 in some cases). During that time, the item under review may appear with a notation like “under dispute.” You’ll also receive a Consumer Disclosure document that explains the result.

If the investigation results in a change, you can request that the bureau notify anyone who received your report in the past six months (or two years for employer-related reports).

5. What to include in a dispute

A dispute without documentation is just your word against the furnisher’s. Send proof whenever you have it.

Always include:

• Your full name and current address
• A copy of your government-issued ID
• A copy of a utility bill or bank statement confirming your address
• The name of the account or item you’re disputing
• A clear, specific explanation of what’s wrong

Include if applicable:

• Bank or credit card statements showing payment was made
• Proof of identity theft (FTC Identity Theft Report, police report)
• A payoff or settlement letter from the creditor
• Court documents for a bankruptcy or judgment
• Correspondence from the creditor acknowledging an error

Keep copies of everything you send. If you’re mailing, send copies only — not originals.

Be specific about the error. “This account is wrong” is harder to investigate than “This account shows a late payment in March 2025, but I have a bank statement showing the payment posted on March 3, 2025, before the due date of March 10, 2025.”

6. Common dispute mistakes to avoid

Disputing everything at once without documentation. If you flood a bureau with ten disputes and don’t back any of them up, each one is easier for the furnisher to verify and confirm. Focus on errors you can document first.

Using vague dispute reasons. “This is incorrect” doesn’t help the investigator. Say exactly what’s wrong and what the correct information should be.

Disputing accurate information hoping it will get deleted. This is a tactic sometimes promoted online. If the information is accurate and the furnisher verifies it, it stays. Disputing accurate negative information doesn’t remove it, and repeated frivolous disputes can be flagged.

Forgetting to dispute with all three bureaus. Each bureau maintains its own database. An error at one may or may not appear at the others, but you’ll need to dispute separately with each bureau that shows the problem.

Not following up after the investigation closes. If the bureau doesn’t update the item and you believe they got it wrong, you have further options (covered in the next section). Don’t assume a closed investigation means the problem is fixed — check your updated report.

Assuming a dispute will automatically affect your credit score. Disputes address the accuracy of information. Whether or how your credit score changes depends on many factors, and no outcome is guaranteed.

7. When a dispute doesn’t resolve the issue

If the bureau closes your dispute and the item stays on your report, that doesn’t end your options.

Add a consumer statement. You have the right to add a brief statement (100 words or fewer) to your credit file explaining your side of a dispute. Lenders reviewing your report will see it. It doesn’t change the information, but it adds context.

Dispute directly with the furnisher. You can send a dispute directly to the company that reported the information — the creditor, lender, or collection agency. Under the FCRA, furnishers who receive direct disputes must also investigate and correct inaccurate information.

File a complaint. You can file a complaint with:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov
• The FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Your state attorney general’s office

Talk to an attorney. If you believe the bureau or furnisher violated the FCRA — for example, by failing to investigate, repeatedly reporting known inaccurate information, or not sending you results — you may have legal remedies. An attorney who handles consumer protection cases can review your situation.

Consider professional help. Credit repair companies can help review your reports, prepare disputes, and track bureau responses. This is an optional paid service — you can do everything a credit repair company does for the dispute process yourself, for free. If you’re weighing whether professional help makes sense for your situation, you can review our services or request a consultation.

Our broader credit repair guide covers more on what the credit repair process involves and what to expect.

Related Articles

• Credit Repair: What It Is and How It Works
• What Is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
• How to Read a Credit Report

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dispute a credit report error for free?

Yes. Every consumer can dispute information on their credit report directly with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at no charge. Online dispute portals, mail, and phone are all available at no cost. Paid credit repair services are optional.

How long does a credit bureau have to investigate a dispute?

Generally 30 days from the date the bureau receives your dispute. That window extends to 45 days if you obtained your credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com and submitted the dispute within 60 days of receiving your report. The bureau must send you the results of the investigation in writing.

What happens if the furnisher verifies the disputed information as accurate?

The item remains on your credit report. Accurate and verifiable negative information may stay on your report for the legally allowed period — generally seven years for most negative items, ten years for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You still have the option to add a consumer statement, dispute directly with the furnisher, or consult an attorney if you believe the FCRA was violated.

Do I have to dispute with all three credit bureaus separately?

Yes, if the error appears at more than one bureau. Each bureau maintains its own data, and a dispute filed with Equifax doesn’t automatically carry over to Experian or TransUnion. Pull reports from all three, check each one for errors, and file separately wherever you see a problem.

What’s the difference between disputing an error myself and using a credit repair service?

No difference in the legal process — the same rights and bureau procedures apply either way. A credit repair service helps you review your reports, identify items to dispute, prepare documentation, and track bureau responses. That’s a service you can do yourself for free. If you have limited time, multiple issues across multiple files, or want professional support, a paid service may be worth considering. See our FAQ for more on how the process works.

Can I dispute an item that I know is accurate just to see if it gets removed?

Disputing accurate information isn’t a reliable strategy. If the furnisher verifies the item, it stays. Bureaus can also flag and reject disputes they determine are frivolous or repetitive. Focus disputes on information you genuinely believe is inaccurate, incomplete, unverifiable, or outdated.