How to Dispute Incorrect Information on Your Credit Report in the United States
Correct inaccurate accounts, balances, payment histories or personal information on your credit report. Learn how to dispute errors for free, provide evidence and follow up on the investigation.
US United States
Housing & Property ~ 12 min read
8 FAQ
Updated 2026-10-14
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To dispute incorrect information on your U.S. credit report, contact each credit reporting company showing the error and the lender or other company that supplied the information. Identify the inaccurate entry, explain what is wrong, request a correction or deletion, and provide copies of supporting documents. Disputes are free and can be submitted to Equifax, Experian or TransUnion online, by mail or by phone. Credit reporting companies generally investigate within 30 days, although some investigations can take up to 45 days. If the error remains unresolved, you can challenge the results and, when appropriate, submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
What you need
- A copy of the credit report containing the inaccurate or incomplete information, identifying which credit reporting company issued it.
- Your full name, current mailing address and contact information.
- The credit report confirmation or identification number, if available.
- The name of the creditor or information provider and the relevant account number, if applicable.
- A clear description of each error and the correction or deletion you are requesting.
- Copies of supporting evidence, such as account statements, payment confirmations, creditor correspondence, identity documents or account closure records, as relevant.
- For a mailed dispute, a written dispute letter and copies of the relevant credit report pages with the incorrect entries identified.
Eligibility
Consumers in the United States have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to dispute information in their consumer credit reports that they believe is inaccurate or incomplete. This includes incorrect account ownership, payment history, balances, account status, personal information and information resulting from identity theft.
You do not need to hire a credit repair company or pay a fee to exercise this right. A dispute does not guarantee deletion of accurate negative information. Credit reporting companies may decline to investigate disputes reasonably determined to be frivolous or irrelevant, including disputes that lack sufficient information to identify the disputed entry.
How to do it
- Obtain your credit reports. Request reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion through the federally authorized credit report service at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Identify every error. Review personal details, account ownership, balances, payment history, account status and duplicate entries. Record which credit reporting companies display each error.
- Gather supporting documents. Collect statements, payment records, creditor letters or other documents showing why the reported information is incorrect. Keep the originals.
- Dispute with each affected credit reporting company. Submit a dispute online, by mail or by phone. Explain each error and request the appropriate correction or deletion.
- Contact the information furnisher. Send a separate written dispute to the lender, creditor, debt collector or other company that supplied the incorrect information.
- Keep records. Save copies of your submissions, supporting documents, confirmation numbers and correspondence. Consider certified mail with a return receipt for mailed disputes.
- Review the investigation results. Credit reporting companies generally investigate within 30 days, with certain cases taking up to 45 days. Examine the written results and any updated report.
- Follow up if the error remains. Review the investigation explanation, provide relevant additional evidence when appropriate, and consider a CFPB complaint after the reporting company's dispute is no longer pending or more than 45 days have passed.
You can dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on your U.S. credit report for free. Start with the credit reporting company showing the error, then contact the business that supplied the information. Explain exactly what is incorrect, include supporting evidence and request a correction or deletion.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) establishes consumer rights and investigation obligations. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides official instructions and sample dispute letters. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three nationwide credit reporting companies that receive and investigate consumer disputes.
Your first action is to obtain the affected credit report and identify the incorrect entry. The official CFPB credit report dispute guide explains the available submission methods.
What credit report information can you dispute?
You can challenge information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. The dispute should identify a specific reporting problem rather than simply express dissatisfaction with your credit score.
| Reported error | What to check | Possible evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Account that is not yours | Account ownership and identifying details | Creditor correspondence or identity records |
| Incorrect late payment | Payment date and account history | Bank statements or payment confirmations |
| Wrong account balance | Reported amount and statement date | Account statements or payoff records |
| Closed account shown as open | Account closure and current status | Account closure confirmation |
| Duplicate debt | Whether the same obligation is incorrectly reported more than once | Statements and collection correspondence |
| Incorrect personal details | Name, address or other identifying information | Relevant identification or address records |
| Wrong delinquency date | Reported payment history and dates | Account history or creditor records |
The CFPB also identifies mixed credit files, in which information belonging to different people appears in one consumer's report, as a potential source of errors.
For example, if your credit report shows a missed payment but your bank statement confirms the payment was made on time, identify the specific account and reporting month, explain the discrepancy and attach a copy of the payment evidence.
How to obtain your credit reports before filing a dispute
Review reports from all three nationwide credit reporting companies because an incorrect entry may appear on one report but not the others.
Consumers can request free weekly online credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized service identified by the CFPB.
Use the CFPB's official credit report access guidance to find the authorized service and understand your report-request rights.
Requesting your own credit report does not hurt your credit score.
Who should receive your credit report dispute?
The CFPB recommends disputing inaccurate information with both the credit reporting company and the information furnisher. They perform different roles in correcting your credit file.
| Recipient | Responsibility | Your action |
|---|---|---|
| Credit reporting company | Maintains your credit report and investigates disputed entries. | Dispute with each company displaying the error. |
| Information furnisher | Provides account information to reporting companies. | Send a separate dispute to the business that supplied the data. |
A furnisher may be a bank, credit card issuer, mortgage lender, debt collector or another business that supplies account information.
Disputing with your lender alone is not the same as disputing with the credit reporting company. Submitting disputes to both helps ensure that the information provider investigates its records and that the reporting company exercises its obligations under the FCRA.
How to dispute an error with a credit reporting company
You can submit a dispute online, by mail or by phone. The CFPB identifies the following official company-specific routes.
Equifax credit report disputes
Equifax accepts disputes through its online credit dispute service. The CFPB also directs consumers to the telephone number shown on their report or 866-349-5191 for telephone and mailing assistance.
Experian credit report disputes
Experian accepts disputes online and provides instructions for mailed disputes. The CFPB lists 888-397-3742 as an additional telephone contact.
TransUnion credit report disputes
TransUnion provides online, mail and telephone dispute options. The CFPB lists 800-916-8800 for telephone disputes and directs consumers to TransUnion's current mailing instructions.
For the current online routes and mailing instructions for all three companies, consult the CFPB's verified dispute contact directory.
If the same inaccurate entry appears on two or three credit reports, submit a dispute to each reporting company that displays it. A dispute submitted to one company does not replace the need to check the others.
What should your dispute letter include?
The CFPB provides an official sample letter that can be adapted to your situation. Use the CFPB sample dispute letters and instructions.
A mailed dispute should include:
- Your full name, current address and telephone number.
- The credit report confirmation number, if available.
- The creditor's name and relevant account number.
- A description of each inaccurate or incomplete entry.
- An explanation of why the information is incorrect.
- A request for correction or deletion.
- A copy of the relevant credit report page with the disputed information marked.
- Copies of documents supporting your explanation.
Send copies, not original documents. Keep a copy of your dispute letter and evidence. If mailing, consider certified mail with a return receipt so you can document when the company received your dispute.
Which supporting documents are useful?
The most useful evidence depends on the disputed information. A payment dispute may be supported by a bank statement or payment receipt. An incorrect balance may require an account statement. An account ownership dispute may require correspondence establishing that the account does not belong to you.
Provide enough information to identify the specific account and disputed reporting period. A general statement that your credit report is wrong may not give the company enough information to investigate.
How to dispute the error with the information furnisher
After disputing with the affected credit reporting company, send a separate written dispute to the business that provided the incorrect information.
Use the furnisher's dispute address shown on your credit report or another address the furnisher specifies for credit reporting disputes. The CFPB provides a separate information furnisher dispute letter.
Your letter should identify the account, explain the inaccuracy, request an investigation and include copies of supporting evidence.
Furnishers generally must investigate and respond to qualifying direct disputes within 30 days. If the information is inaccurate or cannot be verified, the furnisher must correct or remove it and notify the credit reporting companies as required.
If the furnisher concludes that the information is accurate, it may leave the entry unchanged. You can then review the results and decide whether further evidence or another remedy is appropriate.
How long does a credit report dispute take?
The investigation deadline is not a guaranteed date for your credit score to change. It is the period within which the reporting company generally must investigate your dispute.
| Situation | Official timeframe |
|---|---|
| Standard credit reporting company investigation | Generally 30 days after receipt |
| Certain disputes following a free annual credit report | Up to 45 days |
| Relevant additional information submitted during the initial investigation | Possible 15-day extension |
| Notification after investigation | Generally within five business days |
| Qualifying direct dispute with an information furnisher | Generally 30 days, subject to applicable extensions |
The CFPB explains these periods in its credit report investigation timeline guidance.
Keep your submission date and proof of receipt. If the company requests additional information, respond with relevant evidence and retain copies of what you provide.
What happens after the investigation?
The credit reporting company must notify you of its investigation results. When a correction is made, you should receive information reflecting the updated report.
Possible outcomes include:
- Corrected: The inaccurate account detail, balance, status or other information is updated.
- Deleted: The disputed information is removed because it is inaccurate or cannot be verified.
- Verified as accurate: The disputed entry remains because the investigation did not establish an error.
- Not investigated: The company determines the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant and must provide the required explanation.
When a furnisher corrects information it previously reported inaccurately, it must provide the correction to the credit reporting companies to which it supplied that information, as required by federal law.
Review the updated credit report carefully. Check the specific account, balance, payment history or identifying information rather than assuming every related entry was corrected.
What if your dispute does not fix the error?
If the reporting company verifies the information but you still believe it is inaccurate, review the investigation results and determine whether relevant evidence was missing or overlooked.
- Review the reporting company's written explanation and compare it with the evidence you submitted.
- Contact the reporting company if you need clarification or have relevant additional information.
- Check whether you also disputed directly with the information furnisher.
- Request that a brief statement of the unresolved dispute be included in your credit file, if appropriate.
- Consider a CFPB complaint when the credit reporting company's dispute is no longer pending or more than 45 days have passed.
The FCRA gives consumers the right to request a statement of dispute in their credit file when a dispute remains unresolved. This right applies to disputes submitted to a credit reporting company, not solely to a furnisher.
For details, read the CFPB guidance on disagreeing with dispute results.
Filing a complaint with the CFPB
A CFPB complaint is different from the initial credit report dispute. It does not replace the investigation you must first request from the credit reporting company.
The CFPB's current credit reporting complaint instructions say that you should first dispute the inaccurate or incomplete information with the reporting company. For a complaint about that dispute, the CFPB asks whether more than 45 days have passed or the dispute is no longer pending.
Use the official CFPB credit reporting complaint entry page to check whether your issue is ready for submission.
Keep the original dispute confirmation, investigation response and supporting evidence available when preparing your complaint.
The CFPB complaint process is not a guarantee that disputed information will be deleted. Consumers may also have rights under federal and state law to seek legal assistance or other remedies.
Can you remove accurate negative information?
Generally, accurate negative information cannot be removed simply because it harms your credit score. Most negative credit information can remain on a report for seven years, while certain categories can remain longer.
You can still dispute inaccurate dates, incorrect account details, duplicated reporting or information that does not belong to you.
Be cautious of credit repair services that promise to remove accurate negative information. The CFPB explains that consumers can dispute inaccurate information themselves without paying a company.
See the official CFPB explanation of accurate negative credit information.
What if the incorrect account resulted from identity theft?
An unfamiliar account may result from mixed credit files, incorrect reporting or identity theft. If you suspect identity theft, do not treat the problem only as an ordinary payment or balance dispute.
The CFPB directs consumers to the federal identity theft recovery service, IdentityTheft.gov, for help reporting and recovering from identity theft.
For related recovery steps, see how to report identity theft to the FTC and obtain a recovery plan.
If an unfamiliar debt collector is also demanding payment, the debt collection dispute process may involve separate rights. See how to dispute a debt collection notice for a debt you do not owe.
Common mistakes when disputing credit report information
- Disputing with only one reporting company: Check all reports and dispute separately wherever the error appears.
- Not contacting the furnisher: The company that supplied the information may also need to investigate and correct its records.
- Submitting a vague dispute: Identify the exact entry, explain the error and specify the requested correction.
- Sending original documents: Provide copies and retain your originals.
- Failing to preserve evidence: Save correspondence, submission confirmations and proof of delivery.
- Assuming a dispute guarantees deletion: Accurate information can remain after investigation.
- Filing a CFPB complaint too early: Follow the current CFPB requirement to dispute with the reporting company first.
- Paying for unnecessary credit repair: The federal dispute process itself is free.
Official resources for credit report disputes
The CFPB provides federal consumer guidance, sample letters, dispute deadlines and information about unresolved complaints. The following resources help you complete the process:
- How to dispute an error on your credit report — submission methods and reporting company contacts.
- Sample credit report dispute letters — separate templates for reporting companies and information furnishers.
- Investigation deadlines — standard periods and possible extensions.
- Unresolved dispute rights — statements of dispute and additional remedies.
- CFPB complaint instructions — when a complaint may be submitted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I dispute an error on my credit report for free?
Get the report showing the error, identify the incorrect entry, gather supporting documents and submit a dispute to the credit reporting company. Also dispute the information with the business that supplied it. The dispute process is free.
Can I dispute incorrect information on my credit report online?
Yes. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion provide online dispute options. The CFPB maintains current links and instructions at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/.
How long does a credit bureau have to investigate a dispute?
A credit reporting company generally has 30 days after receiving a dispute to investigate. Certain investigations can take up to 45 days. It generally must notify you of the results within five business days after completing the investigation.
What documents should I send with a credit report dispute?
Include copies of documents relevant to the specific error, such as account statements, payment confirmations, creditor correspondence or account closure records. For mailed disputes, identify the incorrect entry on a copy of your credit report. Keep original documents.
Should I dispute a credit report error with the credit bureau or the lender?
The CFPB recommends disputing with both. The credit reporting company investigates the entry in your report, while the lender or other information furnisher investigates the data it supplied. Submit disputes to each affected reporting company.
What happens if my credit report dispute is denied?
Review the investigation results, check whether relevant evidence was considered and contact the reporting company if necessary. You may request a statement of unresolved dispute in your credit file. A CFPB complaint may be appropriate once the reporting company's dispute is no longer pending or more than 45 days have passed.
Can I remove a late payment from my credit report if it is accurate?
Generally, no. Accurate negative information cannot normally be removed simply because it affects your credit score. You can dispute an incorrect payment date, inaccurate account status or other factual error.
Does disputing an error guarantee my credit score will increase?
No. A dispute does not guarantee that information will be changed or deleted, and a correction does not guarantee a particular credit score increase. The outcome depends on the investigation and the information corrected.
Official sources
CFPB — How do I dispute an error on my credit report?CFPB — How long does it take to repair an error on a credit report?CFPB — Sample letters to dispute information on a credit reportCFPB — What if I disagree with the results of my credit report dispute?CFPB — Credit and consumer reporting complaint noticeCFPB — Is it possible to remove accurate but negative information from my credit report?CFPB — TransUnion consumer reporting company profile and free credit report accessCFPB — Common credit report errorsRelated procedures
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