Your credit report affects whether you can borrow money (and what it costs), and it may also impact renting, insurance, and some employment screenings. If something on your report is wrong or incomplete, you have the right to challenge it—and the fix is supposed to be free.
Start by checking your reports regularly
You’ll want to confirm what’s being reported before you apply for something major (like a mortgage, auto loan, apartment, or certain insurance policies). You can get free copies from each of the three major credit bureaus at least annually, and there are also programs that allow more frequent access.
First, decide what kind of problem you’re dealing with
1) The information is wrong or incomplete
Examples: a balance is incorrect, a payment is marked late when it wasn’t, an account isn’t yours, or personal details are inaccurate.
Best practice: dispute it with both:
- the credit bureau(s) showing the error, and
- the business that furnished/reported the information.
2) The information is accurate—but negative
If the negative item is correct, it can still appear for a long time. As a general rule, most negative items can be reported for seven years, and bankruptcy can be reported for ten years.
Step 1: Dispute the error with the credit bureau(s)
You should dispute with each bureau that lists the mistake. You can typically dispute online, by phone, or by mail—but mail is often the easiest way to keep clean documentation.
What to include in your dispute packet
- Your full name and address
- A clear list of each item you want corrected, and why
- Copies (not originals) of documents that support your claim
- A copy of your credit report with the errors clearly marked
Send it in a way you can prove
If mailing, use certified mail/return receipt and keep copies of everything you send.
What happens after you dispute
- The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate.
- If your dispute is labeled “frivolous” or “irrelevant,” the bureau can stop investigating—but they must tell you and explain why (often you’ll need to submit more evidence).
- The bureau forwards your evidence to the furnisher (the company reporting the information), and the furnisher must investigate and report results back. If the furnisher finds they reported incorrect info, they’re required to notify all three nationwide bureaus so files can be corrected.
- You must receive the results in writing, and if a change is made, you’ll get a free updated copy of your report.
Extra helpful option: If your correction is accepted, you can ask the bureau to send notices of the correction to certain parties who pulled your report recently (timelines differ depending on the purpose).
Step 2: Dispute the error with the business that reported it
Send a written dispute to the company that supplied the information (the “furnisher”). Many furnishers require disputes to be sent to a specific address; if you can’t find it on your report, contact the company and ask where credit-report disputes should be mailed.
What to include
- Your full name and address
- Exactly what’s inaccurate, and why
- Copies (not originals) of supporting documents
What happens next
If the business keeps reporting the item while it’s disputed, it must notify the bureau about the dispute, and the bureau must show that the item is being disputed. If the business determines the information is inaccurate or incomplete, it must tell the bureau to update or delete it.
If the dispute doesn’t resolve the issue
If the bureau’s investigation doesn’t fix the problem, you can request that a statement of dispute be added to your file so future reports show your side. You can also request that your statement be sent to recent recipients, though you may be charged a fee for that distribution.
Final step: monitor to make sure the fix “sticks”
After the investigation, re-check your report to confirm:
- the incorrect item was removed/updated, and
- if the furnisher continues reporting it, that the report clearly notes the item is disputed.