Sometimes inaccurate information ends up on your credit report. Don’t worry! Under the Fair
Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), both the Consumer Reporting Agencies ( CRA) and the
organization that provided the information to the CRAs , such as a bank or a credit card
company, have responsibilities for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report.
To dispute credit report errors, follow these two easy steps.
- Contact the CRA, in writing.
In writing, contact the CRA and provide them with the information you believe to be inaccurate.
Here is a great example of a sample dispute letter that you can use. Include copies (not
originals) of documents that support your position (i.e., credit reports, copies of statements,
etc.). In addition to providing your complete name and address, your letter should clearly identify
each item in your report that you are disputing. The letter should also state the facts and clearly
explain why you dispute the information. Be sure to request the deletion of or correction of the
error(s). Enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled and/or highlighted.
Make copies of your dispute letter and all enclosures you mail in and keep them in safe place
for future reference.
Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so that you can document when the
CRA received your information.
- Contact the organization that provided the incorrect information.
Also contact the organization that provided this incorrect information to the CRA, in writing. This
may be a bank, a credit card company, a loan provider, etc. Include copies of the same
documents you sent to the CRA (not originals). Include a letter similar to the one you sent the
CRA and let them know the item(s) on your credit report that you are disputing. State the facts
and clearly explain why you dispute the information.
If the organization listed an address on your credit report, send the dispute to that address. If
not, contact the provider directly (a quick google search should give you a phone number) and
ask them for an address where you can mail your dispute.
If the organization continues reporting the disputed item, they must let the CRA know about your
dispute. If you’re correct, and this information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete, the
organization that provided this information must notify the CRA to update or delete the
information.
Once you’ve submitted your dispute and it’s been received by the CRA, they are required to
reinvestigate the items in question (usually within 30 days), unless they consider your dispute
“frivolous”. They must also forward all relevant data you provide about the dispute to the
organization that provided the information. After the respective organization receives notice of a
dispute from the CRA, it is required to investigate and review all relevant information provided
by the CRA, and report the results to the CRA. If the organization finds that the disputed
information is inaccurate, it must notify all nationwide CRAs so that they can correct this
information on your file. It’s also important to note that disputed information that cannot be
verified must be deleted from your file.
A few important notes:
- If your report contains erroneous information, the CRA must correct it.
- If an item is incomplete, the CRA must complete it. For example, if your file shows that
you were late making payments, but failed to show that you were no longer delinquent,
the CRA must show that you’re current.
- If your file shows an account that belongs only to another person, the CRA must delete
it.
If you notice an error or inaccurate information listed on your credit report, don’t worry. Follow
the above steps to get it taken care of. This process can take some time, so be patient, keep
records (and copies) of all information you send, who you sent it to, on what date you sent it,
and on what date it was received. Follow up with both the CRA and the organization that
reported the incorrect information via phone every week or so to ensure they’ve received your
credit report dispute and that it’s in process.
The 3 Major Credit Reporting Agencies’ Contact Information:
