You can dispute a credit report error by mail. Use the sample letter below for Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. Fill in the brackets, attach copies of your proof, and mail it. The Fair Credit Reporting Act controls the process. The main section is 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

This is for U.S. consumers. It's practical information, not legal advice. A dispute can fix an error. It won't erase accurate negative information or promise a score increase.

What the bureau has to do after you dispute an item

Once you file a dispute, the bureau generally gets 30 days to reinvestigate. It can take 45 days if you send more information during the first 30-day window. Within 5 business days, the bureau must forward your dispute and documents to the furnisher. That rule lives in 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

The bureau must review what you send. If the item is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, the bureau has to delete or correct it. It may ask the furnisher to weigh in first.

Turns out, it cannot just rubber-stamp the furnisher's answer. Your evidence has to be considered.

If the item survives, ask how the bureau verified it. That request is allowed under the same section.

Sample credit bureau dispute letter

Here is a free template. Copy it into a word processor, remove the brackets, and keep it to one page if you can.

[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]

[Credit Bureau Name]
[Use the mailing address from the table below]

Re: Dispute of inaccurate information on my credit report
Report Number: [Your credit report confirmation number]
SSN: [Last four digits, if the bureau requires it]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am disputing the following information under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681i, because it is inaccurate or incomplete.

1. Account or item: [Creditor or collector name, account number]
   What you report: [Example: a $500 balance as of March 2025]
   Why it is wrong: [Example: I paid this account in full on March 12, 2025. A copy of the receipt is attached.]
   What you should do: [Delete it, correct the balance, or mark it paid.]

2. Account or item: [Add another item if needed]
   What you report: [Describe the error]
   Why it is wrong: [State the facts]
   What you should do: [Delete, correct, or update]

I have attached copies of the documents that support my dispute: [list documents, such as a payment receipt, bank statement, identity theft report, or court record].

Please reinvestigate within the time required by law. If you cannot verify the information, delete or correct it. Send me the results and an updated copy of my credit report.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

Enclosures: [List each document]

Bureaus often ask for your report number, name, address, date of birth, and sometimes the last four digits of your SSN. Send only what the bureau requires. Keep a copy of the signed letter.

How to send the letter

1. Get your current report from the bureau.
2. Circle the item you are disputing. Write down the account number and the exact wrong detail.
3. Gather proof. A receipt, statement, court record, or identity theft report works better than a long explanation.
4. Fill out the template. Use one letter per bureau. Keep the facts neutral.
5. Make copies of your proof. Never mail original documents. Number the pages.
6. Mail the letter certified mail with return receipt requested. Keep the receipt and a copy of everything.
7. Calendar the 30-day response date. Check the bureau's portal or call if you have not heard back.
8. Read the results. If the item is fixed, get a fresh report. If not, decide whether to escalate.

Where to mail each bureau

Experian publishes these addresses on its dispute help page. Mailing addresses can change, so check the bureau's current page before you send anything. Experian dispute help

When mail beats an online dispute

Online disputes handle simple fixes. A wrong address or duplicate account, for example. Mail is better when you have documents, a complex identity theft issue, or a portal that will not accept your file. Certified mail gives you a delivery record. That record helps if you later complain to the CFPB or a state regulator.

Thing is, the portal is not the only door. You can always mail a dispute. The CFPB says to explain in writing what is wrong, why, and include copies of documents that support your dispute. How do I dispute an error on my credit report?

Common disputes and what actually works

Collections

A collection can come off if it is not yours, already paid, older than the reporting period, or listed for the wrong amount. Attach proof. If the collection is yours and accurate, a dispute will not remove it. A collector may agree to delete it in exchange for payment. That is a negotiation, not an FCRA right.

Late payments

A wrong late mark is worth disputing. Maybe the payment posted on time. Maybe you had an approved forbearance. Maybe the creditor made an error. If the late mark is accurate, ask the creditor for a goodwill removal. That is a favor, not a legal dispute under the FCRA.

Identity theft

Identity theft disputes need more than a letter. File an FTC Identity Theft Report. Then follow each bureau's identity theft process. To be honest, the paperwork is the hard part. Federal law gives you a path to block fraudulent information. The bureau will still require proof of identity, the report, and details about the fraudulent account. Keep copies of everything you send.

If the bureau says the item was verified

You can ask the bureau for a description of the procedure it used to verify the item. The bureau must provide that on request. If the item is still wrong, you can add a brief statement of dispute to your file. Then consider a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general. A complaint will not force a deletion by itself. It creates a record and can get you a more detailed response.

What not to do

Don't send a generic letter that calls every negative item fraud. Bureaus can dismiss repeated disputes that lack new evidence. Don't mail original documents. Don't expect a specific score increase. And don't assume a template wins the case. The facts and documents do the work.

FAQ

Do I need a lawyer to write a credit dispute letter? No. You can write your own letter. The FCRA gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information directly with the bureau. 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

Should I send one letter to all three bureaus? Send a separate letter to each bureau that reports the error. Each bureau keeps its own file. Use the addresses above and mail them around the same time if you want the investigations to run in parallel.

How long does a bureau have to respond? Generally 30 days. The deadline can extend to 45 days if you send more information during the first 30 days. The bureau must also forward your dispute to the furnisher within 5 business days. 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

Does paying a collection remove it from my credit report? Not automatically. If the collection is accurate, it can stay. A pay-for-delete agreement is the collector's decision. It is not a right under the FCRA.

Can I dispute the same item twice? You can, but new evidence matters. A repeated dispute without new information may be treated as frivolous.

Pull your report, pick one real error, and mail the letter with proof. That is the next move.