Independent, ad-free explainers on US credit. Educational only — not financial or legal advice.
NetCreditScoreCredit scores, explained
Home › Guides › Disputes

Errors on your credit report and how to dispute them

Mistakes on credit reports are common, and an inaccurate late payment or collection can cost a lot of points. Disputing is free and you can do it yourself.

By the NetCreditScore editors · Updated September 29, 2026

Get all three reports

Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each keep their own file on you, and an error may appear on one report but not the others. Download all three for free at AnnualCreditReport.com; free reports are available weekly. Be wary of look-alike sites that ask for a card number — the official site never does.

What to look for

  • Accounts you never opened. This can be a mixed file (someone with a similar name) or identity theft.
  • Wrong payment status, such as a late payment for a month you paid on time.
  • Duplicates: the same debt listed by the original lender and a collector as two open balances.
  • Outdated items older than seven years from the first delinquency (ten for Chapter 7 bankruptcy).
  • Wrong balances or limits, which distort utilization.
  • Personal details that are not yours: addresses, names or employers. They can point to a mixed file.

How to dispute

  1. Dispute with each bureau that shows the error. All three accept disputes online, by phone and by mail.
  2. Be specific: name the account, say exactly what is wrong and what it should say.
  3. Attach evidence — bank statements, payment confirmations, letters from the lender.
  4. Keep copies of everything and note the date you filed.

You can also dispute directly with the company that reported the information (the “furnisher”). Doing both is often the fastest route.

What happens next

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a bureau generally has 30 days to investigate a dispute (45 days in some cases, for example if you send more information during the investigation). It forwards your dispute to the furnisher, which must check its records. If the item cannot be verified, it has to be corrected or deleted. You will get the results in writing, along with a free copy of the updated report if anything changed.

If a dispute is rejected but you still believe the item is wrong, you can add a short statement to your file, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or ask a consumer attorney — many handle FCRA cases without an upfront fee.

If it is identity theft

Report it at IdentityTheft.gov, which creates a recovery plan and an official report you can send to the bureaus. Place a free fraud alert with one bureau (it notifies the other two), and consider a credit freeze at all three — it is free and stops new accounts from being opened in your name until you lift it.

This guide summarizes general consumer rights under US federal law and is not legal advice. State laws may give you additional rights.