How to dispute an error on your credit report step by step

The first step to disputing an error on your credit report is to gather your evidence, like bank statements or payment confirmations. Then, reach out to the credit bureau attached to the report online, over the phone or by mail. Explain the reason behind your dispute, referencing your supporting documents as needed. 

A good way to start gathering your evidence is by checking credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian and taking note of where the error shows up and what company is behind it. You can use annualcreditreport.com to request free copies of all three of your credit reports. Credit Karma also provides free copies of your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports alongside free VantageScore® 3.0 credit scores from those two bureaus.

The three major consumer credit reporting agencies, or credit bureaus, are required by law to correct any errors on your credit reports — but they’ll typically only make corrections if you file a successful dispute. A mistake on one or more of your credit reports could lower your credit scores and make it harder to qualify for new credit cards or loans, which is why it’s best to work quickly when you spot an error.

Here are the full steps you can take to dispute the error once you spot one, as well as what you can expect to happen throughout the dispute process.

• How to dispute a credit report error with the credit bureaus
• What are common credit report errors you can dispute?
• Should you dispute the credit report error directly with the furnisher?
• What happens after you dispute a credit report error?
• How long does it take for the credit bureau to investigate?
• When do credit reports update after a successful dispute?
• How does Credit Karma Direct Dispute™ work?
• Next steps: What to do when you disagree with the outcome of your dispute
• FAQs about credit report disputes

How to dispute a credit report error with the credit bureaus

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — the three major credit bureaus — let you dispute inaccuracies online, over the phone or by mail. Here are the general steps for each communication method:

Online

1. Gather any supporting documents you need for the dispute. Save these files as PDFs or take screenshots so that you can upload them with your claim information.
2. Create an online account with the credit bureau. You won’t be able to submit a dispute online unless you have an account with the bureau attached to the credit report. Once logged into your account, you can navigate to the website’s dispute page.
3. Start your dispute claim. Each bureau has a slightly different dispute process, but they all provide a way to narrow down the nature of your dispute before submission. You may have to click on the specific account or line of personal information that has an error and follow the dispute steps from there.
4. Submit your dispute claim. Upload your documents and write out your reason for the dispute. Be as clear as possible when stating your reason. Include dates and references to your supporting documents.

By mail

1. Print copies of any supporting documents you need for the dispute. Be sure not to send along the original documents by mistake.
2. Check the credit bureau website for any forms you need to download. Equifax, for example, provides a dispute request form for consumers, while TransUnion provides a mailing label.
3. Write a dispute letter. This letter should include all details about the error, including the accounts attached to it, if any. State your reason for the dispute clearly and include a request for the information to be corrected or removed. Include a copy of your credit report with the error highlighted.
4. Mail your letter. Mail your letter and your documents via certified mail to the credit bureau so that you can track it.

Over the phone

1. Have your documents handy. You may need to reference them during your call.
2. Call the credit bureau. Your credit bureau may have a dedicated dispute hotline or just a single customer service phone number you can use.
3. Follow the representative’s instructions. Your customer service representative will walk you through the next steps. Depending on the nature of your dispute, you may be asked to submit additional evidence online or by mail.
4. Ask clarifying questions. If you don’t understand something about the dispute process, don’t hesitate to speak up. Be sure to also note your representative’s name and ask for a follow-up email or letter detailing this conversation.

How to contact each major credit bureaus

What are common credit report errors you can dispute?

You can dispute credit report mistakes related to your identity, public records, accounts and inquiries listed on the credit report. Some of the more common credit report errors include:

• A misspelled name
• The wrong phone number or address
• Information from another person’s credit record that has been incorrectly merged with yours
• An account incorrectly reported as open or closed
• An account wrongly reported as delinquent or late 
• An account balance or credit limit error
• The reinsertion of inaccurate information after it’s corrected
• Bankruptcies or foreclosures that haven’t been removed after being on your reports for the mandated number of years.

Should you also dispute the credit report error directly with the furnisher?

Companies that provide information to credit bureaus (like credit card issuers, banks and lenders) are called furnishers. In addition to disputing the error with the credit bureau, you can also reach out to the furnisher involved in the dispute. 

The furnisher must conduct a reasonable investigation into disputes including disagreements about your financial liability (including identity theft and fraud), account terms (such as balances and credit limits), your account activity (payment status and due dates) and any other information you believe is hindering your chances of getting credit.

Even though the credit bureau will reach out to your furnisher during its investigation, if necessary, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission recommend reaching out to both the credit bureau and the furnisher. However, they recommend contacting the credit bureau first.

Contacting your furnisher to fix an error on your credit report can be especially beneficial if you have a good relationship with that furnisher. Customer service from your bank or credit card issuer may be able to help you faster than the credit bureau.

What happens after you dispute a credit report error

When you dispute an error on your credit report, the credit bureau must provide the results of its investigation in writing. The credit bureau must also provide you with the name, address and phone number of the furnisher that supplied the incorrect information.

Once the investigation is complete, your dispute claim will be resolved in one of the following ways:

• The disputed information is confirmed to be inaccurate. If the investigation confirms the information on your credit report is indeed an error, the furnisher and credit bureau must correct their records. The furnisher will update each credit bureau it sent the incorrect information to, and those bureaus will then update your credit reports.
• The disputed information is confirmed to be accurate. If the furnisher maintains the disputed information is accurate, then it will remain on your credit report as is. However, you can still request that the credit bureau include a statement in your credit file explaining the dispute. This statement will be visible if a lender views your credit report.
• The dispute itself is deemed “frivolous.” This generally happens when you’ve submitted incorrect or incomplete information, but it can also occur if you’ve tried to contest the same item multiple times without any new information. Credit bureaus don’t need to investigate disputes deemed frivolous if they communicate that to you within five days. If your original dispute was deemed frivolous, you can try to resubmit a dispute with updated materials.

How long does it take for the credit bureau to investigate?

Credit bureaus generally have 30 days after receiving your dispute to investigate and verify information with the furnisher. The credit bureaus must then report the results to you within five days of completing the investigation.

If you dispute the error directly with the furnisher, that company must also report the results of its investigation to you. It also typically has 30 days to investigate. But if the furnisher stands by the accuracy of the information it reported, it won’t update or remove the error.

When do credit reports update after a successful dispute?

Credit report error disputes are typically resolved within 30 days, but updates to your affected credit reports may take some additional time to appear. The timing depends on each credit bureau’s update cycle and when the furnisher sends the new information to that credit bureau.

If an expected update isn’t reflected on your reports within two months, contact both the credit bureaus and the furnisher to verify accurate reporting.

How does Credit Karma Direct Dispute™ work?

Credit Karma isn’t a credit bureau, but provides free credit reports, as well as free VantageScore® 3.0 credit scores, from TransUnion and Equifax. Being a Credit Karma member also gives you access to other features, such as the Direct Dispute.™ This tool lets you dispute errors on your TransUnion credit report right from the Credit Karma app or your online account.

If you review your TransUnion credit report on Credit Karma and find an error, you’ll see an option to go to the Dispute Center. From there, you can select the account with the error and choose whether you’re disputing ownership or accuracy. Select the reason for the dispute that best fits your situation and send it directly to TransUnion.

You can also start the process of disputing an error on your Equifax credit report through Credit Karma, but you won’t be able to submit it directly within the app. Instead, Credit Karma provides a link that takes you to the official Equifax website where you can submit your dispute.

Next steps: What to do when you disagree with the outcome of your dispute

If your credit report dispute doesn’t lead to the credit bureau changing your information, you can file another dispute. But, if you simply submit the same information, you’ll likely get a similar result. 

When filing the same dispute, make sure to add supplemental information that will help support your claim. You can also add a statement to your credit report that explains that you disagree with some of the information on your credit report. That way, when someone pulls your credit, they have additional context on the dispute.

Regularly monitoring your credit can help you spot potential errors before they linger on your credit reports, so consider signing up for Credit Karma’s credit monitoring services, as well. With these services, Credit Karma will alert you if it notices important changes on your TransUnion or Equifax credit report.