A late payment you never made. An account you don’t recognize. A debt that was paid off still showing a balance. Errors like these can drag down your score and cost you on loans and insurance. The good news: federal law gives you the right to dispute them, and you don’t need to pay anyone to do it.
Step 1: Get all three reports
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each keep their own file, and they don’t always match. Pull all three for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. The bureaus now offer free reports there weekly.
Step 2: Read them carefully
Go section by section. Common errors include:
- Wrong name, address, or Social Security number fragments (sometimes a sign of a mixed file)
- Accounts that aren’t yours — a possible sign of identity theft
- Payments reported late when they were on time
- Closed accounts reported as open
- The same debt listed twice, for example by the original creditor and a collector both showing a balance
- Negative items older than the legal reporting period — we cover those timelines in how long negative items stay on your report
- Incorrect credit limits, which can distort your utilization ratio
Step 3: Gather your proof
Collect anything that supports your case: bank statements showing on-time payments, a “paid in full” letter, a police or FTC identity theft report, or a court document. Copies only — keep the originals.
Step 4: Dispute with the credit bureau
File a separate dispute with every bureau that shows the error. You can do this online, by phone, or by mail. Online is fastest. Mail is slower but gives you a clear paper trail; if you go that route, use certified mail with a return receipt.
In your dispute, include:
- Your full name, address, and date of birth
- Each item you’re disputing and why it’s wrong
- What you want done — delete it, or correct it
- Copies of your supporting documents
The CFPB publishes free guidance and sample letters you can adapt.
Step 5: Consider disputing with the company that reported it, too
The lender or collector that sent the information (the “furnisher”) also has a duty to investigate disputes sent directly to it. Disputing in both places can help, especially if the furnisher’s records are the root of the problem.
Step 6: Wait for the results
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate (45 in some cases, such as when you send more information during the investigation or dispute after getting your free annual report). They must send you the results in writing, and if the item changes, a free updated copy of your report.
If the dispute is rejected
- Send more evidence and dispute again.
- Add a statement of up to 100 words to your file explaining your side.
- File a complaint with the CFPB. Companies generally respond to these.
- Talk to a consumer attorney if the error is serious and the bureau won’t budge. FCRA violations can entitle you to damages.
If the error is identity theft
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a recovery plan and an official report you can send to the bureaus. Then lock things down with a credit freeze. We explain your options in credit freeze vs. fraud alert.
Be wary of “credit repair” companies
Nothing a credit repair company does is something you can’t do yourself for free. Federal law prohibits them from charging upfront fees before they’ve performed services, and no one can legally remove accurate, timely negative information. Promises to “erase bad credit” are a red flag.
Bottom line
Check your reports a few times a year, dispute anything wrong with documentation, and keep copies of everything. Fixing a genuine mistake can lift your score quickly. Once your report is clean, the slow work of building it up is covered in what counts as a good credit score.
