Mistakes on a credit report can raise your interest rates or cost you a loan or an apartment. Federal law gives you the right to check your reports and to have errors investigated and fixed.
Get your reports
You can get free copies of your credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site. Review them for accounts you do not recognize, wrong balances, incorrect late payments, duplicates and outdated information.
How to dispute
- Write down each error and gather proof, such as statements and payment records.
- Dispute online or by mail with each bureau that shows the error, and explain clearly what is wrong.
- Also dispute with the company that supplied the information, called the furnisher.
- Keep copies and confirmation of everything you send.
- Ask the bureau to send corrected reports to anyone who recently received your report, if appropriate.
What the law requires
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a bureau generally must investigate within 30 days of receiving your dispute, with some exceptions that extend it, and must correct or delete information that cannot be verified. If the dispute is resolved against you, you can add a statement of dispute to your file.
If the problem continues
- Complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission if identity theft is involved.
- Consult a consumer attorney, because the law allows damages in some cases and may shift attorney fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do disputes cost money?
No. You can dispute yourself for free, and you should be wary of companies that charge to do it for you.
How long do negative items stay?
Many negative items can remain for about seven years, and some bankruptcies longer.