A wrong balance, an account you do not recognize or a payment marked late when you paid on time can make a credit report misleading. You can dispute information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete without paying a credit-repair company.
This guide explains how to check your reports, prepare a clear dispute and follow up. A dispute asks the company reporting the information to investigate; it does not guarantee that an item will be removed or that your credit score will change.
Before you start
Gather your identifying details, the report showing the problem and any documents that support your account of what happened. Examples might include a statement, payment confirmation, letter from a lender or identity-theft report. Send copies, not irreplaceable originals, and keep a copy of everything you submit.
Steps to dispute an error
- Get your credit reports. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized site for free reports from the nationwide credit reporting companies. Check each report: information may not be identical across all three. A credit report is not the same as a credit score, so do not assume the report includes one.
- Locate the exact entry. Note which report contains the problem and write down the account name, partial account number and the wording or amount you believe is wrong. Check the relevant account history and dates. Dispute only information you genuinely believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Identify who supplied the information. The report usually identifies the company associated with an account. You can dispute with the credit reporting company that produced the report, the company that supplied the information, or both. If the same error appears on several reports, consider contacting each reporting company that shows it.
- Explain the problem clearly. State what you believe is incorrect, why it is incorrect and what you want reviewed. Keep the explanation focused on the specific entry. For example: “This account is not mine” or “The report shows a late payment for [month], but the attached statement shows payment on [date].” Avoid vague requests to remove everything negative.
- Attach relevant evidence. Include copies of documents that help show the issue, and mark the report entry in question on a copy if useful. Provide the information needed to identify yourself and the account, following the recipient’s instructions. Do not send extra sensitive information unless it is requested and you are using a verified official channel.
- Submit the dispute and save your records. Use the credit reporting company’s official dispute process or contact the information provider directly. The report or company website can explain available methods and where to send documents. Save your submitted explanation, attachments, confirmation number and any delivery confirmation. If you speak by phone, note the date and the person or department you contacted.
- Review the investigation result. Credit reporting companies generally have 30 days to investigate; some disputes can take up to 45 days. Check the result and any updated report you receive. If a change is made, check whether it appears correctly. If the company says the information is accurate and you still disagree, review its explanation and the evidence you have before deciding whether to send a more focused dispute.
What happens after you file?
A credit reporting company generally sends the dispute and relevant information to the company that supplied the entry. That company reviews the information and reports its findings. If an item is found to be inaccurate or cannot be verified, it generally must be corrected or removed from the report. The credit reporting company should provide the investigation result.
Filing a dispute does not automatically erase an accurate account or a legitimate late payment. The process is for information that is inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise properly disputable—not simply for an entry that may hurt your credit history. If your dispute is rejected, you can ask how to add a brief statement of dispute to your file, as allowed by the reporting company’s process, or make a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Things to know
- Disputes are free. You do not have to hire a company to challenge an error. Be cautious of anyone promising to remove accurate information or demanding payment for a service you can request yourself.
- Keep the paper trail. Save copies of reports, letters, documents and responses. A clear record makes it easier to follow up if the same issue remains.
- For an account you do not recognize, consider identity theft. First check whether the account could be listed under a different lender name. If you believe someone used your identity, visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps tailored to your situation, and tell the credit reporting company and the company associated with the account.
- Check for the correction. Once the investigation is complete, review the report again to make sure the result is reflected accurately. A correction to a report does not necessarily produce a particular score change.
Start with the report that shows the error, describe the specific problem and keep evidence of every step. A careful, well-documented dispute gives the companies involved the clearest chance to investigate and correct inaccurate information.
