How to Dispute Credit Report Errors at the Three Main Bureaus 

Do one thing: Don’t wait until you are applying for a loan to check your credit reports. If you find errors, it could take several months to resolve any potential issues. Dispute credit report errors immediately.

When Disputing Credit Report Errors, Persistence Matters

We get it. Trying to keep up with your credit reports (much less dispute errors) can feel time-consuming and maybe even a little overwhelming. But the truth is, once you go through your online reports from the three main credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to search for errors, clearing up those issues doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might think.  

Joon Um, CFP, with Secure Tax & Accounting in Beverly Hills, says one common issue he sees with clients is paid-off debt still showing as balances or late payments after an issue was resolved. “Those usually can get fixed,” he explains, “but persistence matters.”

Where to Get Your Credit Reports

First things first. If you are not in the habit of checking your credit reports:

• You can get them for free as often as once a week from the three main agencies mentioned above at AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Those who use the SavvyMoney tool through online and mobile banking also have access to a free credit report.

Review Reports From All Three Bureaus

The best way to make sure you see everything on your credit reports is to get a copy from all three bureaus, says Michael McMeans, CFP, of Silverling Financial in Columbus, Ohio. “Just because your credit is right in one does not mean it’s right in all three,” he explains. “Your goal is to review all three reports and make sure everything on there is actually yours.”

Identifying Errors in Your Credit Reports

If you find something that’s incorrect, McMeans says you should:

1. Visit the website for the bureau where the info was wrong.
2. Set up an online profile with the bureau. 
3. Click “disputes” to contest a record.
4. Provide any documents or paperwork that support your case. 
5. Remember to share copies, never original documents.
6. Always keep records of what you shared.  

Real Life Example: If you went through a divorce and are not responsible for some of the issues on a credit report, you can also call the bureau that reported the error(s) and explain which items are yours and which are not, McMeans says, noting you will likely be asked to provide proof in the form of court documents.

Learn more about common credit report errors and how to fix them.

Disputing Credit Report Errors with Businesses 

After reporting any errors to the credit bureaus that published them, you should also contact the business that supplied the information to the credit agency, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Those businesses would include credit card issuers, other lenders, landlords, etc.

• Tell them you want to dispute that information on your report. 
• Each company has a responsibility to correct information that’s wrong in its report.
• They are not allowed to charge you for doing so.

“The bottom line is that your credit can and should be managed, and at least once a year, you should be sure to check it in this way,” McMeans says. “In my experience, calling in goes a bit further than entering a dispute online. But I would start online.” 

Contact the Bureaus to Dispute Credit Report Errors

Here’s how to get in touch with the three main credit reporting bureaus to dispute errors.

TransUnion

• Online: visit dispute.transunion.com 
• By mail or phone: Visit www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit/mail-or-phone for instructions on how to dispute by mail or phone, or call 800-916-8800.

Experian

• Online or by mail: To file a dispute online or get instructions for how to do so by mail, visit www.experian.com/disputes/main.html 
• By phone: Call 888-397-3742 or the number on your credit report. 

Equifax

• Online: www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/ 
• By phone or mail: Call 866-349-5191 or the phone number on your credit report. 

Strategies for Faster Resolutions

Here is some of Um’s best guidance for fixing errors on your credit reports:  

• Keep the dispute simple and specific. The clearer it is, the better.
• Save everything: Payoff letters, statements, screenshots, emails, certified mail receipts, etc. 
• Online disputes are faster, but certified mail can help with more serious issues.

How Long Should Resolving a Dispute Take?

When it comes to resolving disputes, it’s best to think of it more as a marathon than a sprint. While most investigations are supposed to finish in about 30 days, the truth is it can take longer – much longer. It can take up to six months for the dispute to be handled and for your score to reflect that new information, notes McMeans. 

Other Factors to Consider

If it has been a while since you checked your credit reports, there could potentially be erroneous data that has been left unchecked for quite some time. Unfortunately, the older an incorrect piece of credit history data is, the harder it is to change it or even track down the proof you have to dispute the claim. 

The Bottom Line on Disputing Credit Report Errors

Generally, it doesn’t take long to review your credit reports, and once you do the hard work of correcting everything that’s not right, McMeans says, the annual workload should be quite low. That said, it’s work most people can do, meaning you don’t need to pay someone else to manage your credit for you. “If you do the work,” he says, “the benefit to you will be great.”

With reporting by Casandra Andrews