How to dispute credit report errors, step by step

1. Get all three of your reports

Start at annualcreditreport.com — the only federally authorized source, and free. The bureaus report independently, so an error can appear on one report and not the others; check Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion separately.

2. Identify what's actually disputable

Errors worth disputing include: accounts that aren't yours (mixed files or identity theft), payments marked late that were on time, wrong balances or credit limits, accounts still showing open after being closed, the same debt listed twice (often original creditor + collector both reporting it as active), and negative items older than the reporting window — generally seven years for most negatives and ten for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (CFPB). Accurate information, however unwelcome, is generally not removable — anyone who promises otherwise is breaking the law (FTC).

3. Dispute with the bureau, in writing

You can dispute online, but a mailed letter — sent with delivery tracking — creates the paper trail you'll want if things drag. Identify each item precisely, state the specific inaccuracy, ask for correction or deletion, and enclose copies (never originals) of anything that proves your point. The CFPB publishes sample dispute letters, or use our free letter generator.

4. Dispute with the furnisher too

The company that reported the item (the "furnisher" — a lender, card issuer, or collector) has its own duty to investigate disputes under FCRA §623. Disputing on both fronts closes the loop where a bureau "verifies" an error simply because the furnisher keeps re-reporting it.

5. The 30-day reinvestigation

Under FCRA §611 (15 U.S.C. §1681i), the bureau generally has 30 days from receiving your dispute to reinvestigate (up to 45 in some cases), must forward your evidence to the furnisher, and must delete or correct information it cannot verify. You then get written results and a free updated copy of your report if anything changed.

6. If the error survives

You can add a brief statement of dispute to your file, escalate with new evidence, file a complaint with the CFPB (bureaus must respond), or consult a consumer-protection attorney — the FCRA provides damages for willful noncompliance. Persistence matters: disputes with new or clarified evidence are not "frivolous" and must be processed.