Credit reports can contain errors. In a 2012 Federal Trade Commission study, the FTC found that 26% of study participants identified at least one potentially material error on their credit reports and filed a dispute, and correction of some errors was associated with a meaningful change in credit score for certain participants. Reviewing your reports and disputing inaccurate information can help ensure that lenders and others see an accurate picture of your credit history.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to dispute information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. This guide explains how to identify errors, how to dispute them with credit reporting agencies and the companies that furnish information, and what to do if a dispute does not resolve the issue.
Step 1: Get Your Credit Reports from All Three Agencies
There are three nationwide credit reporting agencies (also called credit bureaus): Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Not all creditors report to all three, so the information on each report can differ. You can request a free copy of each report at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only website authorized under federal law for this purpose.
You are generally entitled to one free report from each agency every 12 months. Additional free reports may be available in certain circumstances, such as if you have been denied credit, are unemployed and seeking work, receive public assistance, or believe your file contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
Request reports from all three agencies so you can identify errors on each one. For a broader overview of what reports and scores mean, see our guide on how credit scores work.
Step 2: Review Each Report for Inaccurate Information
Common types of errors to look for include:
- •Incorrect personal information — misspelled names, wrong addresses, or incorrect Social Security numbers.
- •Accounts you did not open — which can be a sign of identity theft.
- •Account status errors — accounts marked open when they are closed, or vice versa.
- •Incorrect payment history — on-time payments reported as late.
- •Duplicate accounts — the same debt listed more than once.
- •Incorrect balances or credit limits — which can distort your credit utilization.
- •Outdated negative information — most negative information generally must be removed after seven years, and bankruptcies after 10 years, though exceptions can apply.
- •Mixed files — information from another consumer with a similar name or Social Security number appearing on your report.
Write down or print the specific items you believe are wrong, along with the agency that reported them.
Step 3: Dispute the Error with the Credit Reporting Agency
The CFPB recommends disputing first with the credit reporting company. You can dispute online, by phone, or by mail, but submitting your dispute in writing with supporting documentation creates a clear record and is generally recommended.
When you dispute with a credit reporting agency, include:
- •Your full name, address, and (if you have one) a copy of a utility bill or bank statement showing your address.
- •The specific item you are disputing and why you believe it is inaccurate.
- •Copies (not originals) of documents that support your position, such as bank statements, payment records, or a police report if identity theft is involved.
- •A clear request that the information be corrected or removed.
The FTC provides a sample dispute letter you can adapt. Send disputes by mail using certified mail with return receipt requested, so you have proof of delivery.
You can also file disputes through each bureau's online portal or by phone. Keep copies of everything you submit and a record of any confirmation numbers.
Step 4: Also Dispute with the Company That Furnished the Information
In addition to disputing with the credit reporting agency, you can dispute directly with the company that provided the information — for example, the bank, credit card issuer, or debt collector that reported the account. The CFPB recommends sending such disputes in writing by certified mail to the address the furnisher has designated for receiving credit reporting disputes, which is typically the address shown on your credit report.
Include the same supporting documentation you sent to the credit reporting agency. Furnishers generally must investigate and respond to your dispute within the same timelines that apply to the credit reporting agency.
Disputing with both the agency and the furnisher can improve the chances that the error is corrected at the source, so it does not reappear on a future report.
Step 5: Understand the Investigation Timeline
Under the FCRA, credit reporting agencies generally must investigate your dispute within 30 days of receiving it and notify you of the results in writing within five business days of completing the investigation.
The investigation period can be extended to 45 days in certain situations, including when:
- •You submit additional information about your dispute during the 30-day investigation period.
- •You dispute information that came from your free annual credit report obtained through AnnualCreditReport.com.
If the agency determines that your dispute is frivolous or irrelevant — for example, because it does not contain enough information to investigate — it is not required to investigate. However, it must notify you of that determination within five business days and explain why.
Step 6: Review the Investigation Results
After the investigation, the credit reporting agency must provide you with the results in writing and, if the dispute resulted in a change, a free copy of your corrected report. If an item is deleted or modified, the agency cannot put the disputed information back on your report unless the company that furnished it certifies that the information is accurate.
If the investigation does not resolve the dispute to your satisfaction, you still have options:
- •**Add a statement of dispute.** You can ask the credit reporting agency to include a brief statement in your file explaining that you dispute the information. Future recipients of your report may see this statement.
- •**Dispute with the furnisher directly** if you have not already done so.
- •**File a complaint with the CFPB** (see below).
- •**Consider consulting a qualified attorney** if you believe your rights under the FCRA may have been violated. This guide does not provide legal advice.
Step 7: File a Complaint with the CFPB
If the dispute is not resolved, you can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB accepts complaints about credit reporting companies and about the companies that furnish information to them.
To file a complaint:
- 1Visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
- 2Select "Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports" as the product.
- 3Describe the issue, the company involved, and the steps you have already taken.
- 4Attach any supporting documentation.
The CFPB will forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response, typically within 15 days. Companies are generally expected to respond to complaints forwarded by the CFPB. Filing a complaint is free and does not replace your legal rights under the FCRA.
If the Error Is the Result of Identity Theft
If accounts you did not open or charges you did not make appear on your report, you may be dealing with identity theft rather than a simple reporting error. In that case, take additional steps:
- •Report the identity theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. You will receive an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.
- •Place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit files with each of the three agencies.
- •Contact each creditor where a fraudulent account was opened and send a dispute letter with a copy of your Identity Theft Report.
- •Ask the credit reporting agencies to block the identity-theft-related information from your report. Under FCRA provisions for identity theft, credit reporting companies generally must block qualifying identity-theft information within four business days after receiving the required documentation.
For a fuller walkthrough, see our identity theft prevention guide.
What You Cannot Do
It is important to be realistic about what disputes can and cannot accomplish:
- •**You cannot have accurate, verifiable negative information removed simply because it is unfavorable.** If the information is accurate and within the allowable reporting period, it generally remains on your report.
- •**Legitimate debt does not disappear because you dispute it.** If you owe the debt and it is being reported accurately, disputing it does not erase the obligation.
- •**Credit repair companies cannot do anything you cannot do yourself.** The FCRA gives you the same rights to dispute errors that credit repair companies use. Be cautious of any company that promises to remove accurate negative information or charges upfront fees before performing services — the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act generally prohibits charging fees before services are fully performed.
How Disputes Can Affect Your Credit Score
Correcting an error can change your credit score, but the impact depends on what was corrected and what else is in your file. Removing an incorrectly reported late payment may help your score, while correcting a balance error may change your utilization. For an understanding of how these factors interact, see our guide on how credit scores work.
A dispute itself does not generally change your score while the investigation is pending. If the information is verified as accurate, your score will not change.
Sources & References
The following resources from official organizations provide authoritative information on disputing credit report errors.
- •Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
- •Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — What is the best way to dispute an error on my credit report?
- •Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — Submit a complaint
- •Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
- •Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — Sample Letter to Credit Bureaus Disputing Errors on Credit Reports
- •Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — IdentityTheft.gov
- •Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — FTC testifies on credit reporting accuracy study, FCRA enforcement, and credit education (2013)
- •Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — FTC study on credit report accuracy
Final Thoughts
Reviewing your credit reports from all three nationwide agencies and disputing inaccurate information is one of the most effective ways to protect your credit profile. Use AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free reports, dispute errors in writing with both the credit reporting agency and the furnisher, keep copies of everything, and escalate to the CFPB if a dispute is not resolved. If the issue involves accounts you did not open, treat it as identity theft and report it at IdentityTheft.gov. Correcting genuine errors can help your credit profile; accurate but unfavorable information, however, generally remains until it ages off your report.