To correct an inaccurate item on a U.S. credit report, dispute it with every nationwide credit bureau that reports it and with the business that supplied the information. Disputes are free. Your request should identify the exact entry, explain what is wrong, include copies of relevant proof, and state the correction you want.
A complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is an escalation option. It doesn't replace the initial dispute with the bureau or furnisher.
Credit report dispute checklist
- [ ] Download reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
- [ ] Compare Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports.
- [ ] Mark each inaccurate or incomplete item.
- [ ] Note which bureau reports each item and identify the furnisher.
- [ ] Gather copies of statements, payment records, letters, or other proof.
- [ ] Send a separate, specific dispute to each affected bureau.
- [ ] Send a direct dispute to the creditor, collector, or other furnisher when appropriate.
- [ ] Save the reports, letters, attachments, confirmation numbers, and delivery records.
- [ ] Record the date each bureau received your dispute.
- [ ] Review the investigation results and updated reports.
- [ ] Escalate if the error remains after the dispute process.
What rules control a credit report dispute?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, governs how a nationwide credit reporting agency handles information that may be inaccurate or incomplete. The bureau generally must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and consider relevant information you submit.
If the information is inaccurate or can't be verified, the bureau generally must correct or delete it. When the bureau sends the dispute to the business that supplied the information, that business must investigate and report its findings.
The dispute process isn't a general way to erase accurate negative information. A correctly reported late payment, collection, charge-off, or bankruptcy usually can't be removed just because it lowers your score. Focus the dispute on accuracy, completeness, account ownership, reporting dates, or information that should no longer appear.
The CFPB complaint process works differently. The agency can send your complaint to the company and request a response, but a complaint doesn't automatically require deletion and isn't a court decision.
Which errors should you look for?
Information can differ from one bureau to another, so review all three reports rather than assuming one is complete.
| Error type | What to check |
|---|---|
| Identity or mixed-file error | An incorrect name, address, identifying detail, employer, or account belonging to someone with a similar identity |
| Account ownership | An account you never opened, an account listed after you were only an authorized user, or an identity-theft account |
| Payment history | A payment marked late even though you paid on time, an incorrect delinquency date, or a payment shown as missing |
| Account status | A closed account shown as open, a paid account shown as unpaid, or a collection with the wrong status |
| Balances and limits | An incorrect balance, credit limit, past-due amount, or account date |
| Duplicate information | The same account or debt listed more than once |
| Inquiries | A hard inquiry you don't recognize or didn't authorize |
| Outdated information | Negative information that appears to be beyond the applicable reporting period |
An unfamiliar address or employer may not affect your score by itself. It can still point to a mixed file or identity theft, so record it and investigate further.
Step 1: Get and save your credit reports
Start with AnnualCreditReport.com, the official source for reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Request a report from each bureau and save a PDF or paper copy.
Write down the date of each report. Keep the version that shows the error; the entry may change while your dispute is pending. A report from one bureau doesn't stand in for the other two.
Step 2: Make an error log
A short log will keep the dispute focused and help you track responses. For each problem, record:
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| Bureau | Experian |
| Furnisher | Name of the bank, lender, collector, or other business |
| Account or inquiry | Account or inquiry details, using only the information needed to identify it |
| What the report says | “30 days late in March” |
| What is correct | “Paid in full on March 3” |
| Evidence | Statement, payment confirmation, or creditor letter |
| Requested result | Correct the payment status and balance |
Send a separate dispute to every bureau that shows the error. You can reuse the same evidence when the mistake appears on more than one report, but each bureau needs its own submission.
Keep unrelated issues apart when possible. A request about one account that states what the report says, why it's wrong, and what should change is easier to review than a broad demand to remove every negative item.
Step 3: Gather copies of useful evidence
Good evidence addresses both sides of the problem: what the report says and what the correct information should be. Depending on the error, useful documents may include:
- The relevant report page with the disputed entry marked
- Account statements showing the correct balance or payment date
- Payment confirmations, canceled checks, or bank records
- A letter from the creditor confirming that an account was closed or paid
- A court order or other document changing an account obligation
- Proof of identity and address if the bureau requests it
- An identity-theft report or related records when the account isn't yours
Send copies, not originals, and keep a complete copy of everything. Include only the personal information needed to match your file. Use the bureau's secure upload portal when submitting sensitive documents.
If you suspect identity theft, report it through IdentityTheft.gov and follow the bureau's identity-theft instructions. A credit freeze or fraud alert may help prevent further misuse, but neither one replaces a dispute over an existing entry.
Step 4: Dispute the error with each bureau
You can usually submit a dispute online or by mail. Check the bureau's current instructions instead of relying on an old mailing address:
Online filing is quick and lets you upload documents. Save the confirmation number, screenshots, or a downloaded copy of the submission and attachments.
Mail may give you a more complete paper trail. Use the dispute address printed on your report or listed on the bureau's official website. Enclose copies of the relevant report page and your supporting documents. Tracked or certified delivery can help you document when the bureau received the packet. Addresses change, so verify one before mailing.
A phone call can help with a status question or filing instructions, but it may be harder to prove what you said and what evidence you provided. If you call, record the date, representative's name, and confirmation number, then follow up in writing when needed.
Step 5: Dispute the information with the furnisher
The furnisher is the business that provided the information to the bureau. It might be a lender, credit card issuer, debt collector, utility company, or another business.
For a typical account item, send the furnisher a direct dispute as well as disputing the entry with the bureau. Don't assume that a dispute submitted to one party automatically serves as a complete direct dispute to the other.
Use the address designated for credit-report disputes on the business's website, your credit report, or a billing statement. A general customer-service address may not be the address used for direct disputes.
The FTC sample letter for disputing information with a business can help organize your request. Identify each item, describe the facts, explain why the information is wrong, attach copies of proof, and ask the business to investigate and notify the bureaus of any correction.
Credit report dispute letter template
You don't need a paid “609 letter” or a special phrase. A factual letter with enough detail to identify the item is usually the better approach.
[Your full name]
[Your current address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Date]
[Credit bureau or furnisher name]
[Current dispute address]
Re: Dispute of inaccurate credit-report information
I am disputing the following information in my credit file:
Item: [Furnisher name and account or inquiry details]
What the report says: [Describe the inaccurate information]
Why it is incorrect: [State the relevant facts]
Requested correction: [Explain what should be corrected or deleted]
I have enclosed copies of documents supporting my dispute:
1. [Document]
2. [Document]
3. [Document]
Please investigate this dispute and correct or delete the information as appropriate. Please send me the results of the investigation and an updated report if the information is changed.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Signature if mailing]
[Phone or email]
[Report confirmation number, if available]Mark the relevant report entry and include copies of your evidence if you're mailing the request. Keep the originals. Don't guess, exaggerate, or dispute information you know is accurate.
How long does a bureau have to investigate?
The usual FCRA timing is:
| Stage | General timing |
|---|---|
| Initial bureau investigation | Generally within 30 days after the bureau receives the dispute |
| Possible extension | Up to 15 additional days if you provide relevant new information during the initial 30-day period |
| Results notice | Generally within five business days after the investigation is completed |
The practical date to track is the date the bureau receives a complete dispute, not merely the date you mailed it. Keep delivery confirmation or the online submission record.
A bureau may treat a dispute as frivolous or irrelevant if it doesn't contain enough information or simply repeats an earlier dispute without meaningful new facts. It generally must notify you and explain that decision. Identifying one item, stating the facts clearly, and attaching relevant evidence can reduce that risk.
The possible 15-day extension isn't a required 15-day waiting period before you can complain to the CFPB. It is an extension of the bureau's investigation timeline when the stated condition applies.
Read the investigation results
The result may state that the information was:
- Corrected: The bureau changed the disputed information.
- Deleted: The bureau removed the item because it couldn't verify it or found it inaccurate.
- Verified: The bureau kept the information after investigating.
- Rejected as incomplete or duplicative: The bureau determined that the request lacked enough information or repeated an earlier dispute.
If the bureau corrected or deleted the item, compare the updated report with your records. Then check the other bureaus; a correction at one bureau doesn't automatically update the others. Ask the bureau for the free revised report available when disputed information is changed or deleted.
If the bureau verifies an item you still believe is wrong:
- Read the results notice carefully.
- Ask for a description of the procedure used to determine the information's accuracy and completeness.
- Submit new, relevant evidence instead of repeating the same general statement.
- Dispute the information directly with the furnisher if you haven't done so.
- Ask whether you can add a brief statement of dispute to your file.
A successful dispute doesn't guarantee a particular score increase. The effect depends on the item, the scoring model, and the rest of the information in your file.
When should you escalate to the CFPB?
Consider using the CFPB complaint form after you have given the bureau or furnisher a fair chance to address the error, especially if the company:
- Doesn't respond within the applicable investigation period
- Ignores documents that directly address the disputed information
- Reports different information after agreeing to correct it
- Verifies information that your records clearly contradict
- Fails to explain the result adequately
Upload a concise timeline, the relevant report pages, dispute letters, evidence, delivery records, and investigation results. Remove unnecessary sensitive information before uploading anything.
The CFPB can forward the complaint to the company and request a response. It doesn't act as a court and can't guarantee that an item will be deleted. Depending on the harm involved, you can also contact your state's consumer-protection agency or speak with a qualified consumer-law attorney. That may be worth considering if the unresolved error contributed to a credit denial, higher borrowing cost, housing problem, or employment issue.
What if the information is accurate but harmful?
Don't dispute an accurately reported debt or late payment just because it damages your credit. Instead, ask the furnisher about payment arrangements, account status, or hardship options. A paid account may still remain on a credit report for a period allowed by law.
If you think an item is too old to report, make the reporting date the focus of your dispute. Explain why the entry appears to be outside the applicable reporting period and keep documents showing the original delinquency, account closure, payment, or collection history.
Be wary of companies that promise a guaranteed score increase, claim they can remove accurate information, or tell you to submit a false identity-theft claim. The FTC's guide to disputing credit report errors is a free starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to dispute an error with all three credit bureaus?
No. Dispute the item with every bureau that reports it. Correcting an entry with one bureau doesn't automatically correct it with the others.
Can I dispute a credit report error online?
Usually, yes. Online portals let you submit an explanation and upload documents. Save the confirmation number and a copy of every file you submit. Mail may be preferable when you want a detailed paper trail.
What should I do if my dispute is denied?
Read the investigation results, request the procedure used to verify the item, and submit specific new evidence. Also dispute the information directly with the furnisher if you haven't already. If the response remains inadequate, consider a CFPB complaint or another appropriate escalation route.
How long does a dispute usually take?
Most bureau investigations are completed within 30 days. The period can reach 45 days when you provide relevant additional information during the initial investigation period.
Can a dispute remove an accurate late payment?
Generally, no. A dispute can correct a late payment that was reported inaccurately, but it usually won't remove an accurate late payment merely because it's hurting your credit.
Where can I find official guidance?
Start with USA.gov's credit report error guidance, the FTC dispute guide, and the official dispute instructions for the bureau or furnisher involved. Save the report page showing the problem before you file.