Americans have the right to an accurate and comprehensive credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You can dispute old, incomplete, or erroneous information on your credit report and have it removed or changed. The FCRA requires that erroneous, incomplete, or unverifiable information be deleted or rectified within 30 days. A consumer reporting service may also refuse to report unfavorable information that is more than seven years old or bankruptcies that are more than ten years old.
Options for Disputing Credit Report Information
You have two alternatives when it comes to contesting credit report information. You can submit a dispute with one of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion), which are in charge of producing your credit report using information from your creditors. You can also submit a dispute with the creditor or business that directly sent the information to the credit bureaus. Begin by filing a claim with the credit bureau; if they do not remove or alter the information in your favor, you can pursue your dispute with the creditor that submitted the false information. Both the credit bureau and your creditor have the authority to correct the error.Ordering a Free Credit Report
You must first obtain a credit report to file a dispute. An FCRA amendment requires that each nationwide credit reporting company furnish you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months upon your request. You can get your free credit report online at AnnualCreditReport.com or by submitting the Annual Credit Report Request Form to the following address: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281Mailing Addresses for Disputing an Error
Send a credit report dispute letter to the credit bureau that reported the inaccuracy, describing your complaint. Copies (not originals) of documents supporting your claim should be included in the letter. Include your name and address and a description of each disputed item in your report. Explain why you're questioning the material, and then ask that it be rectified or removed. The FCRA recommends that you include a copy of your report with the items in question circled and a copy of your letter. Send your dispute via certified mail so that you can monitor it and ensure the credit bureau answers in a timely manner. If the inaccuracy appears on all three of your credit reports, send a letter to them. The credit bureau has 30 to 45 days to reply to your dispute and inform you of the outcome of their investigation. The mailing addresses for each credit bureau are as follows: Equifax P.O. Box 7404256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0256 Experian Dispute Department P.O. Box 9701 Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19022-2000Disputing Online
You can also dispute erroneous information directly on the websites of the credit bureaus: Equifax.com, Experian.com, or TransUnion.com. Each should allow you to upload, fax, or email documents supporting your claim, such as a copy of a canceled check proving that you made timely payment. When you register a dispute online, make a note of the date you submitted it so you may follow up with the credit bureau if it doesn't respond within the required deadline. Make a copy of any confirmation letter from the credit bureau and save it for your records.Disputing Directly With a Credit Issuer
When you submit a dispute with a creditor who provided false information to the credit bureaus, the procedure is similar to challenging the bureau itself. Write a letter indicating the error you discovered and explaining why the information is incorrect. Again, if you have evidence to back up your allegation, please send copies. A recent billing statement can help you discover the business's address. Check the address intended for correspondence, as it is generally different from the address where payments are sent. If you can't find an address or no longer have billing bills, phone the company and ask for the correct mailing address. If the information is incorrect, the information source, like the credit bureaus, is required to conduct an investigation and update your credit report.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
WHAT DO I SEND when I file a dispute with a credit bureau?
When submitting a dispute to a credit bureau, include a government I.D., your full name and address, the error you want to be fixed, copies of the evidence to verify your dispute, and a copy of your credit report. Include a letter outlining what is incorrect and how it should be appropriately reflected or corrected. Include copies of whatever documentation you have to back up your claim. Keep the original paperwork for your records at all times.What happens if I file a dispute with a credit bureau?
After you've gathered all necessary information and proof and submitted your dispute to the credit bureau, they must investigate your claim within 30 days. They will promptly alert the company that initially gave the information, and that company will conduct its own inquiry. If they identify an issue, they will correct your credit report.