Studies consistently find that around 1 in 5 credit reports contains an error significant enough to affect the credit score. Disputing errors is free, legally protected, and can meaningfully improve your score. Here’s exactly how to do it.
First: find the errors
Get your free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Read through each one carefully and look for: accounts you don’t recognize, incorrect balances, payments marked late that you paid on time, accounts that should be closed but show as open, wrong personal information, and duplicate accounts.
Gather documentation
Before disputing, collect evidence that supports your case. Bank statements showing on-time payments, letters from lenders, account closure confirmations — anything that proves the information is wrong. You don’t always need documentation (sometimes the bureau simply can’t verify the information and must remove it), but having it strengthens your case.
How to file a dispute
File separately with each bureau that’s reporting the error — an error at Equifax doesn’t automatically get fixed at TransUnion:
- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute
- Experian: experian.com/disputes
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-disputes
Online disputes are fastest. Describe exactly what’s wrong and why, attach your documentation, and submit. Keep copies of everything.
What happens after you file
The bureau is legally required (under the Fair Credit Reporting Act) to investigate within 30 days — 45 days if you submitted additional information. They contact the creditor who reported the information and ask them to verify it. If the creditor can’t verify it, the bureau must correct or remove it.
You’ll receive a written result. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, your score typically updates within one to two billing cycles.
If your dispute is rejected
You can add a consumer statement to your credit report (up to 100 words) explaining your position. You can also escalate by filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov — this often gets faster attention from both bureaus and creditors. If the error is causing significant financial harm, consulting a consumer protection attorney is worth considering, as many take these cases on contingency.