Complete Guide to Credit Report Disputes

Lenders look at your credit score to determine if you're eligible to borrow money and how much borrowing will cost. Potential employers also look at credit histories, and so do insurance companies when setting premiums. It's crucial that your credit report reflects accurate information because these reports are used to determine your credit score.

Unfortunately, some credit reports do contain incorrect information. When that happens, it can be a good idea to dispute the information so the credit reporting agencies can investigate it and remove it if it's inaccurate. While some reporting errors are innocuous, others indicate the possibility of identity theft. 

We explain how to dispute a credit report manually but recommend using a fraud remediation specialist if you suspect you're the victim of identity theft.

How to dispute a credit report

The first step to disputing a credit report error is to realize your report has inaccurate information in the first place. That's why it's typically a good idea to check your credit report and score regularly. AnnualCreditReport.com allows you to do this for free for each of the three largest agencies that report credit. These major credit bureaus are called Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Once you've obtained a free credit report, look carefully for errors. If you find them, you must initiate the dispute process with the credit reporting agency or agencies with the inaccuracies. If more than one agency reports erroneous information, you'll want to contact each separately.

The table below provides details about disputing information on your credit history. It is always faster to submit your dispute online, but you can also do so by mail or phone.

Contact Method	Experian	TransUnion	Equifax
Phone	866-200-6020 to obtain a credit report, then call the number listed on the credit report	800-916-8800	866-349-5191
Online	Experian website	Transunion website	Equifax website
Mail	Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013	TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000	Equifax Information Services, LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Information to have ready	Full name Social Security number Date of birth Addresses where you lived in the past two years A government-issued ID, such as a driver's license A utility bill or insurance statement A list of inaccurate items on your credit report Reasons you believe the information is inaccurate	Name Social Security number Partial account number of the disputed item Your current address Your TransUnion file number, if available Your date of birth The name of the company that is reporting the disputed information The reason for the dispute	Driver's license Birth certificate Copy of utility bill Current bank statements with account details Lender letters showing accounts have been corrected Proof of identity theft Bankruptcy schedules Disability letters for student loans Canceled checks or other proof of payment

Why dispute items on a credit report?

Lenders use the information in credit reports to determine your creditworthiness and inform their lending decisions, like whether to

• Rent you a house
• Loan you money
• Approve you for a credit card
• Set your interest rate when borrowing
• Determine whether to hire you
• Set insurance premiums

You don't want companies to make decisions based on a report that contains inaccurate information — especially if that information is negative. If your report incorrectly shows a missed payment even though you made all payments or if there is a court judgment on your report because someone stole your identity, your own ability to borrow, find work, or rent an apartment could be impacted.

Disputing errors on your credit report allows you to correct the record. The credit reporting agencies will investigate, and if the disputed information is found to be inaccurate, they should remove it. Your credit history should then show only legitimate accounts, and your credit score will be calculated using accurate details.

What can you dispute on a credit report?

You can dispute any inaccuracy on your credit report. This could include:

• Inaccuracies in your personal information, such as your name, address, birth date, or Social Security number
• Any inaccurate account information, such as inaccurate late payments, a closed account being reported as open, or the wrong credit limit
• Mixed-up credit files, such as if your report has someone else's credit accounts on it
• Duplicate reports of items, such as a debt that is listed multiple times

If there is an incorrect address on your credit report or an account you do not recognize, this could indicate that identity theft has occurred.

How long does the dispute process take?

After you have filed a dispute with the credit bureau, it has 30 days to investigate.

This could include sending evidence you submitted to the business reporting the allegedly erroneous information on your credit report. If that business (also known as the furnisher) finds out they were incorrectly reporting info to the credit agency, the company must contact all three credit bureaus to correct the information.

You will get a written notice from the credit bureau when their investigation is complete. If the information you are disputing is inaccurate, the credit bureau will typically remove it within about 30 days of the time they conclude it's incorrect.

However, if the investigation does not resolve things, you can ask the credit bureau to include a statement of the dispute and to provide it to creditors who request your credit history in the future. You could also submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about the credit bureau or the data furnisher. Explain what you’re disputing and include documentation that supports your dispute.

FAQs

Bottom line

It’s essential to check your credit report regularly. This is helpful for many reasons, including when you're trying to figure out how to prevent identity theft online or aiming to ensure that lenders make informed, accurate decisions about loans.

If you've checked your credit report and found errors, now you know how to take action to protect your reputation as a responsible borrower. Take advantage of credit monitoring services to view reports from the three major credit bureaus. You can quickly see if there are any inaccurate negative items or other issues you need to resolve.