What to Do If You Find an Error on Your Credit Report

Finding an error on your credit report can be frustrating, especially if it involves a late payment, an unfamiliar account, or a balance you know is incorrect. The good news is that you have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information, and you do not have to pay a company to do it. Your next step is to identify exactly what is wrong, gather any relevant records, and contact the companies responsible for reporting the information.

Not every difference on a credit report is an error, and not every negative entry can be removed. By checking the details carefully and following the right process, you can give the companies investigating your dispute the information they need to assess your claim.

Key Takeaways

• Check which information is inaccurate before submitting a dispute.
• Review all three credit reports because an error may appear on only one or two.
• Gather relevant records and keep copies of everything you send.
• Dispute the error with the credit reporting company and, where appropriate, the company that supplied the information.
• Review the investigation results and check your updated report to confirm the correction.

1. Confirm That the Information Is Actually Wrong

Before you dispute anything, compare the information on your credit report with your own records. A difference may have a straightforward explanation, such as a creditor reporting to only one or two bureaus, an account update that has not appeared yet, or a balance reported on a different date.

However, you should investigate information that you cannot reconcile with your records. Common credit report errors include accounts that do not belong to you, payments incorrectly marked late, closed accounts shown as open, duplicate debts, incorrect balances, and inaccurate account dates.

Start by reading your credit report correctly to identify the exact account or entry, the information you believe is incorrect, and what the correct information should be. For example, if your credit report shows a $1,200 balance but your latest statement and payment records support a different amount, note the reported balance, the correct amount, and the relevant dates.

2. Check All Three Credit Reports

Your credit information is maintained by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Because creditors may report account information to different bureaus, an error on one report may not appear on the other two.

Get your reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized website for free credit reports. Compare the relevant account details across all three reports, including the account status, payment history, balance, credit limit, and dates.

If you find the same error on more than one report, record which bureaus show it. You will generally need to dispute the error on your report with each credit reporting company whose report contains the error, rather than assuming one dispute will automatically correct every report.

3. Gather Records That Support Your Claim

Once you confirm the error, look for records that help establish what is wrong. The right documents depend on the type of mistake, so focus on evidence that directly relates to the disputed information rather than sending unrelated paperwork.

For example, bank statements and payment confirmations may help if a creditor incorrectly marked a payment late. Account statements may help establish an incorrect balance, while a creditor's closure confirmation may support a dispute over an account that is still shown as open.

You do not need to prove every aspect of your financial history. You need to explain the specific error and provide relevant evidence that helps the company investigate it. Keep copies of the documents you send, and avoid mailing original records.

4. Submit a Dispute to the Appropriate Credit Bureau

After identifying the error and collecting supporting records, contact the credit reporting company whose report contains the inaccurate information. You can generally submit a dispute online, by mail, or by phone, depending on the bureau's available options.

Explain what is wrong, identify the account or entry, and state what correction you are requesting. If you submit your dispute by mail, include your contact details, the account information, a clear explanation, a copy of the relevant section of your credit report with the error highlighted, and copies of supporting documents. The CFPB's dispute instructions and template letter can help you prepare your request.

If you mail your dispute, consider using certified mail with a return receipt so you have a record of delivery. Keep your dispute letter, enclosures, delivery confirmation, and any responses together in one place.

Be specific about the correction you want. A request that identifies an incorrect payment date and explains why it is wrong gives the company more useful information than a general statement that your credit report is inaccurate.

5. Contact the Company That Reported the Information

The credit bureau is not always the only company you need to contact. If a bank, lender, card issuer, or debt collector supplied the inaccurate information, you can also dispute it directly with that company, known as the furnisher.

For example, suppose your credit report shows a late payment, but your bank statement and payment confirmation indicate that you paid on time. You can dispute the reporting with the credit bureau and contact the creditor that supplied the payment history.

This gives the company responsible for the account information an opportunity to investigate its own records. Use the dispute address or instructions provided by the company, and explain the same specific error in your communication. Include relevant supporting documents and keep a copy of what you send.

6. Track the Investigation and Review the Results

After you submit a dispute, keep track of the date, the company you contacted, the item you challenged, and any reference number you received. This record will help you follow up if the investigation takes longer than expected or you need to submit additional information.

Credit reporting companies generally have 30 days to investigate a dispute, although certain circumstances can extend the period to 45 days. Review the result when it arrives, then check your updated credit report to confirm whether the information has been corrected, removed, or left unchanged.

Do not assume that a dispute has been resolved simply because you received a response. The updated report is what helps you confirm the practical result.

What If the Error Involves Identity Theft?

If you find an account you never opened or suspect someone has used your personal information, treat the issue as a potential identity theft problem rather than an ordinary reporting mistake.

Start by reviewing the unfamiliar account and identifying the company associated with it. You can report identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government's recovery resource, and follow the steps provided for your situation. You should also dispute the account with the credit reporting companies that list it and contact the relevant company where appropriate.

Keep any identity theft report, correspondence, and supporting records with your dispute documentation. If the account is fraudulent, clearly state that you did not open or authorize it rather than simply disputing the balance or payment history.

What If the Credit Bureau Does Not Correct the Error?

An investigation may not produce the result you expected. If the credit reporting company says the information is accurate, review its response and check whether you can provide additional evidence that addresses the specific reason for the decision.

You can contact the furnisher, submit a further dispute when you have a legitimate basis and relevant information, or ask the credit reporting company to add a statement explaining your dispute to your file. Keep your communications factual and focused on the evidence. Repeating the same claim without addressing the investigation's findings may not resolve the problem, so use each response to determine what information you still need.

The Bottom Line

If you find an error on your credit report, verify the information, compare your reports, gather supporting records, and dispute the mistake with the appropriate companies. Keep copies of your communications and review the investigation results to make sure the correction appears where it should.

You do not need to resolve every issue in one day. Start with the specific error you can document, follow the process carefully, and keep track of each step until you know the outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions