How to dispute errors on your credit report
Key takeaways
04 · ideas- FTC research suggests 1 in 5 credit reports may contain an error
- Disputes must be investigated within 30 days under FCRA
- Unverifiable items must be corrected or removed
- Disputing accurate negative information is unlikely to result in removal
Basic level
The essentials · 1 min
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate or unverifiable information on their credit reports. The three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — are each required to investigate disputes and respond within 30 days.
Common credit report errors:- Accounts that belong to someone else
- Payments marked late that were made on time
- Negative information past the reporting time limit (most negatives drop off after 7 years)
- Duplicate accounts
- Incorrect balance or credit limit information
Free annual access: Each bureau provides one free credit report per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Intermediate level
How it applies · 2 min
The dispute process
- Obtain your credit report from the bureau where the error appears
- Document the error specifically — account name, number, and what is wrong
- Submit a dispute online, by mail, or by phone to the bureau
- The bureau contacts the data furnisher (the lender that reported the item) within 5 business days
- Investigation window: 30 days
- If the furnisher cannot verify the item, it must be corrected or removed
You can also dispute directly with the data furnisher, in addition to the bureau.
What disputes do not accomplish
The dispute process verifies whether information is accurate. Accurate negative information (a genuinely late payment, a real collection) cannot be removed through the dispute process. Adding a 100-word consumer statement to your file is possible if you disagree with a dispute outcome.
Advanced level
The math, step by step · 1 min
Identity theft protections
For identity-theft-related disputes, stronger protections exist:- Initial fraud alert: 1-year alert; lenders must take reasonable steps to verify identity
- Extended fraud alert: 7-year alert; requires a police or identity theft report
- Security freeze: Blocks new creditors from accessing your report entirely; free under federal law since 2018
Under the FTC identity theft process, consumers with documented identity theft can request blocking of fraudulent items, which results in removal rather than just "not verified."