A credit report can affect whether a lender approves an application and what terms it offers. If you spot an account you do not recognize, a payment marked late when you paid on time, or another factual mistake, you can ask for it to be investigated.
This guide explains how to check your reports, prepare a dispute, and track what happens next. The process is for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information—not removing accurate negative information simply because it is inconvenient.
What You Will Need
- Your credit reports from the credit reporting companies that show the error.
- Details identifying the item you are disputing.
- Copies of records that support your explanation, such as account statements or payment confirmations.
- A safe place to save copies of your dispute and any responses.
Steps to Dispute a Credit Report Error
- Get and review your reports. Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized site for requesting reports, or follow the instructions on the official website of a credit reporting company. Check each report: information can differ between companies. Look for accounts, balances, payment history, personal details, and inquiries you do not recognize. Reviewing your own reports does not hurt your credit scores.
- Pin down the specific error. Write down the name of the company reporting the item, the account number or other identifying details shown, and where it appears on the report. Be precise: “This account is not mine” or “The report shows a late payment for May, but the attached statement shows it was paid on time” is more useful than “My report is wrong.”
- Gather supporting records. Collect copies of documents that help establish what is accurate. Depending on the issue, these might include statements, payment receipts, a letter confirming an account was closed, or identity-theft documentation. Send copies, not irreplaceable originals. Include only personal information needed to identify the account and process the dispute.
- Contact the credit reporting company showing the error. Use its official dispute channel—online, by mail, or another method it provides. If the same mistake appears on more than one company’s report, dispute it with each company that lists it. Describe the error, explain why it is inaccurate, and state what you believe the correct information should be. Include copies of relevant supporting documents and keep a copy of everything you send.
- Contact the company that supplied the information. This is often a lender, card issuer, debt collector, or other business called a furnisher. Send it a separate dispute through its official address or process, identifying the same account and explaining the problem. Keep a copy and note when and how you submitted it. Disputing with both the reporting company and the information provider can help make sure each receives your account of the error.
- Save proof and watch for a response. Keep confirmation numbers, delivery records, copies of letters, and any messages or results. The Federal Trade Commission says credit reporting companies generally have 30 days to investigate; certain cases can take up to 45 days. Check the response for the investigation outcome and any updated report. If the information changes, review the result to make sure the correction is accurate.
- Follow up if the issue remains. Read the explanation carefully. If the response does not resolve the problem, check whether a document was missing or the issue was not clearly described, then submit a focused follow-up with any new evidence. You can also ask the credit reporting company to include a brief statement of your dispute in your file and in future reports, subject to its process. If you believe a company has not handled your dispute properly, you can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Tips and Things to Know
Dispute facts, not just a low score
A credit score is calculated from information in a credit report. If the score seems lower than expected, review the underlying report for a specific error rather than disputing the score itself. A dispute is meant to address information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Accurate negative information generally cannot be removed just because you ask, although reporting rules limit how long certain information may appear.
Use official channels and avoid unnecessary fees
You do not have to pay a credit-repair company to submit a dispute. The credit reporting companies and information providers have official ways to receive them. Be cautious of anyone promising to erase accurate information, create a new credit identity, or guarantee a score increase. Use contact details from the company’s official website or your report rather than relying on an unsolicited message.
Keep your records together
A simple folder—digital or paper—with the report page, your evidence, submission confirmation, and response makes it easier to see what happened and explain the issue if you need to follow up. Avoid sending sensitive documents through an unverified email address or website.
Correcting a report can take time, but a clear explanation and organized records make the process easier to manage. Start with the report that shows the problem, dispute the specific information with the appropriate companies, and keep checking until you understand the outcome.
