If Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion lists an account that isn't yours, the wrong balance, a payment you made on time, a duplicate collection, or a name and address that belong to someone else, dispute that specific item. File with every bureau that reports it, and send the same explanation and evidence to the lender, card issuer, or collector that furnished the data.

A useful dispute names the account, the field that's wrong, what the report currently says, and what it should say. "This whole report is inaccurate" is not enough. Online filing is convenient; a letter is slower, but it creates a dated paper trail.

Accurate negative information generally can't be stripped out just because it lowers your score. Under the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable should be investigated and then corrected or deleted.

What a credit bureau dispute can and cannot fix

A dispute is the right tool when a report:

It is not a general request to erase anything unfavorable. If a late payment or collection is accurate, the bureau usually has no duty to delete it. You can still ask the creditor for a goodwill adjustment, but that is a courtesy request, not an FCRA dispute.

A debt-validation request to a collector is a separate process. If you question whether the collector has the right to collect, don't rely on a credit bureau dispute alone.

Before you file: collect the report and evidence

1. Get all three credit reports

Request current reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. An error may appear on only one report, or the same account may look different on each file.

Save a copy of each report or record the date you accessed it. Then compare:

The FTC's guidance on disputing credit report errors walks through how to review a report and contact the bureaus.

2. Make each error specific

Give the bureau enough detail to find the item and understand the problem.

Report problem More useful dispute description
Wrong balance "The account shows a $2,400 balance. The attached statement shows a $1,240 balance as of May 15."
Incorrect late payment "The report shows a 30-day late payment for March. My payment posted on March 8, before the due date shown on my statement."
Account not yours "I did not open or use this account. I believe it may be the result of identity theft."
Duplicate collection "The same debt appears twice under two collection companies. Please investigate whether these entries represent one account."
Incorrect medical account "The report shows an $890 balance, but the attached insurance explanation of benefits and payment record show that amount was paid or adjusted."
Unrecognized inquiry "I did not apply for credit with this company on the reported date. Please investigate the basis for this inquiry."

3. Gather copies, not originals

Helpful evidence can include the report page with the error circled, account statements, payment confirmations, letters from a creditor or collector, an insurance explanation of benefits for a medical account, a police or identity-theft report, proof of identity and current address if requested, and court or bankruptcy records that directly support the correction.

Send copies and keep the originals. Redact unrelated account numbers and other sensitive details where practical, but follow the bureau's identity-verification instructions.

How to dispute an error with Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion

Each bureau maintains its own file. A correction at one does not automatically update the other two.

  1. File with every bureau that reports the error. If the item appears on more than one report, submit a separate dispute to each.
  2. Use that bureau's current online dispute center or mailing instructions. Addresses and document rules change, so check the bureau's website or the instructions that came with your report.
  3. Dispute the furnisher too. Send the same focused explanation and evidence to the company that supplied the data, using its dispute address or the address shown on your report.
  4. Upload or enclose your proof. Online systems usually accept documents. For mail, include a copy of the report page and a numbered list of attachments.
  5. Save confirmation numbers, screenshots, the final letter, attachments, and delivery records.
  6. Read the written result, then pull a fresh report later to confirm that any correction actually appears.

Online filing may start faster. It does not guarantee a better outcome. A well-organized letter can be the better choice for identity theft, several related entries, or documents that need explanation. A phone call can answer basic questions, but it's harder to document and often too cramped for a complicated error.

Experian's official dispute instructions explain its process and the documents it accepts. The FTC sample dispute letter is a solid starting format.

Credit bureau dispute letter template

Replace the bracketed text with your information. Use the bureau's current dispute address; don't copy an address from an old template.

[Your full name]
[Your current address]
[City, State ZIP code]
[Date of birth]
[Last four digits of your Social Security number, if requested]

[Date]

[Bureau name]
[Bureau's current dispute address]

Re: Dispute of inaccurate information in my credit report

Dear [Bureau name]:

I reviewed my credit report dated [report date]. I am disputing the following information:

1. Furnisher: [creditor or collector name]
   Account number: [last four digits]
   Reported information: [what the report says]
   Correct information: [what the report should say]
   Reason for dispute: [brief, factual explanation]

Please conduct a reasonable reinvestigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If the information cannot be verified as reported, please delete it. If it is verified but inaccurate, please correct it and send me written results and an updated copy of my report.

Enclosures:
- Copy of the report page with the item highlighted
- [Statement, payment record, identity-theft report, insurance document, or other evidence]
- [Copy of identification or proof of address, if required]

Please contact me in writing if you need information that is reasonably necessary to investigate this dispute.

Sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your printed name]
[Phone or email, optional]

Use one numbered entry for each related error. If you're disputing several unrelated accounts, separate letters can make the evidence easier to follow.

Example: incorrect late payment

The report lists a 30-day late payment on my [creditor] account ending in [last four digits] for [month and year]. The attached account statement shows that my payment of $[amount] posted on [date], before the due date of [date]. Please correct the payment history and update any related status or balance information.

Attach the statement or payment confirmation. Don't call a payment inaccurate merely because it posted after the due date.

Example: account caused by identity theft

I did not open, authorize, or use the account ending in [last four digits] reported by [company]. I believe this account is related to identity theft. I have enclosed the identity-theft documentation and proof of identity requested by your process. Please investigate the account and tell me what additional documents, if any, are needed.

Send this to the bureau and to the creditor or collector. Follow each organization's identity-theft checklist. Don't describe an account as identity theft if you recognize the debt and are only disputing the balance or payment history.

Example: medical collection with an incorrect balance

A medical account isn't automatically wrong just because it's medical. Check the provider or collector name, amount, dates, insurance adjustments, and payment history.

The account reported by [provider or collector] ending in [last four digits] shows a balance of $[amount]. The attached explanation of benefits and payment record show that the amount was paid, adjusted, or assigned to a different responsibility. Please investigate and correct the balance and account status.

If the report has the wrong consumer, a duplicate account, or an incorrect date, identify that error. Don't ask for removal solely because the debt concerns medical care.

Example: unrecognized inquiry

I do not recognize the hard inquiry from [company] dated [date]. I did not apply for credit with this company. Please investigate the basis for the inquiry and remove it if the company cannot establish a permissible purpose or if the inquiry resulted from identity theft.

An inquiry you don't recognize isn't automatically unlawful. Contact the listed company, ask why it accessed your file, and include that response or any identity-theft evidence with your dispute.

What happens after you submit a dispute?

The usual investigation period is 30 days after the bureau receives the dispute. It can extend to 45 days in circumstances the FCRA allows, including when you send additional relevant information during the investigation.

The bureau generally contacts the furnisher, reviews the information, and sends you the result. A notice that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant is different from a normal verification result. That notice should explain why the investigation is ending and, when applicable, what information is still needed.

A result may say the information was:

The investigation itself doesn't guarantee a higher score. If a correction changes your score, the timing and size of that change depend on the rest of your file and the scoring model used.

If the bureau verifies information you believe is wrong

Don't immediately resend the same vague dispute. Compare the result with your evidence, then:

  1. Send a focused follow-up with new or clearer documentation.
  2. Dispute the item directly with the furnisher if you haven't already.
  3. Ask the bureau for a description of the procedure used to verify the item.
  4. Ask to add a brief statement of dispute to your file if the issue remains unresolved.
  5. Keep a timeline of submissions, delivery dates, responses, and report changes.

If the process looks incomplete or the inaccurate information keeps appearing, consider a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state attorney general. A complaint can document a failure to investigate. It doesn't guarantee deletion. Keep copies of every report and response.

Common mistakes that weaken a dispute

You don't need to buy a so-called "609 letter" or pay for a promised score increase. A clear explanation and relevant evidence matter more than legal-sounding language.

Goodwill letters are different from disputes

If a late payment is accurate but followed a one-time hardship, ask the creditor, not the bureau, for a goodwill adjustment. The creditor can refuse. It isn't required to remove accurate information merely because you ask.

[Date]

Dear [Creditor]:

I am writing about the late payment reported on my account ending in [last four digits] for [month and year]. I understand that the payment history is accurate. The late payment followed [brief explanation], and my account has otherwise been managed responsibly.

Would you consider removing or adjusting this one late-payment entry as a goodwill courtesy? I understand that this request is voluntary, and I appreciate your review.

Sincerely,

[Your name]
[Contact information]

Don't label an accurate late payment as a factual dispute in this letter. Keeping the two requests separate makes your records clearer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to dispute an error with all three bureaus?

Only with the bureaus that show the error. If the same inaccurate information appears on all three reports, file a separate dispute with each bureau and send one to the furnisher.

Is the deadline always 30 days?

Thirty days is the usual FCRA investigation period. In certain situations it can extend to 45 days, particularly when relevant information is added during the investigation.

Can a dispute remove an accurate collection?

Not solely because the collection is negative. A bureau may correct or delete information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified. Otherwise, ask the collector about its separate debt-validation process, or ask the creditor for a goodwill adjustment when that fits the facts.

Should I dispute online or by mail?

Either can work. Online filing gives you a quick confirmation and a place to upload documents. Mail is useful when you need to explain a complex issue and want delivery records. The quality of your evidence matters more than the format.

What should I do after a correction?

Save the result, check the updated report, and look for matching errors on related entries. If a lender recently denied an application or offered worse terms because of the incorrect information, ask whether it will reconsider after receiving the corrected report.

For additional federal guidance, review USAGov's information on credit report errors, the FTC's sample letter, and the FTC's dispute overview. Those resources apply to U.S. credit reporting; state procedures and remedies may differ.

Pull all three reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, mark one specific error, attach the document that proves it, and file with each bureau that shows it plus the furnisher. Save the confirmation before you wait for the result.