How to Read Your Credit Report and Dispute Errors
Step-by-step guidance on finding mistakes and getting them corrected.
Your credit report holds information that lenders, landlords, and insurers may use to make decisions about you.
Mistakes in that report can affect applications, pricing, or approvals.
Federal guidance gives you the right to review your credit report and dispute credit report errors that are inaccurate, incomplete, or do not belong to you.
This article walks through what to check, how to document a problem, and where to send your dispute.
You generally should notify two parties, not one.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends contacting both the credit reporting company that published the error and the furnisher—the lender, collection agency, or other business—that supplied the information.
What to look for in your credit report
Start by reviewing whether the report contains information about the correct person.
Check that your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth match your records.
Next, look at each account listed.
Confirm that you recognize the creditor, that the account type and opening date are accurate, and that the credit limit or loan amount is correct.
Review the payment history for each account.
Late payments, missed payments, or charge-offs should appear only if they actually occurred.
Finally, verify that current balances and account statuses—open, closed, paid, or in collections—reflect reality.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises looking for items that are inaccurate, incomplete, or not yours.
Who receives your dispute
When you find an error, send your dispute to the credit reporting company that is showing the mistake.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identifies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion as the nationwide consumer reporting companies.
You also should notify the furnisher—the company that provided the information to the credit reporting company.
The furnisher might be a bank, credit card issuer, auto lender, collection agency, or another business.
If the same error appears on reports from more than one credit reporting company, dispute it with each one that displays the mistake.
What to include in a dispute
A written dispute should clearly identify the information you are challenging.
Explain why the item is wrong—for example, the account does not belong to you, the payment history is incorrect, or the balance is outdated.
Request that the credit reporting company correct or delete the inaccurate information.
Include a copy of the section of your credit report that shows the error, and attach copies of any documents that support your claim.
The FTC advises not sending original documents; keep those for your records.
The CFPB provides sample dispute letters that you can adapt to your situation.
How to send the dispute
You can dispute credit report errors online, by mail, or through other methods described in your credit report.
Check your credit report for current instructions and links to dispute processes offered by the credit reporting company.
If you prefer to dispute by mail, send your letter and supporting documents to the address listed in the report.
The FTC recommends using a mailing method that provides proof of delivery, such as certified mail with return receipt.
| Method | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Online | Fast submission; check upload limits for documents |
| Paper trail; consider certified mail for proof of delivery |
When disputing with the furnisher, the CFPB recommends using a written dispute and keeping a copy of everything you send.
What happens after you dispute
The credit reporting company will investigate the items you disputed.
If the information is found to be inaccurate, it will be corrected or removed from your report.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified after a reasonable reinvestigation must be deleted or modified, subject to applicable statutory procedures and exceptions.
The credit reporting agency generally must provide you with the results of the investigation under applicable law.
If the reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute to your satisfaction, you have the right under the FCRA to add a brief statement to your file explaining your side of the story.
If the problem is not resolved
Sometimes a dispute does not fix the error, or the credit reporting company and furnisher do not respond in a way that resolves the issue.
In that case, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The CFPB accepts complaints about credit reporting companies, furnishers, and other financial businesses.
Before filing, gather your dispute records, the investigation results, and any other relevant documents.
The CFPB complaint process sends your complaint to the company for response.
You can also contact your state attorney general’s office or a consumer protection agency if the problem involves a violation of state law.
Understanding your rights
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in your credit report.
You do not need to prove identity theft or fraud to dispute an error; any inaccurate item can be challenged.
Credit reporting companies and furnishers are required to investigate disputes, and they must correct or delete information that cannot be verified.
Disputing an error does not guarantee it will be removed, but it does trigger a review process.
If the investigation confirms that the information is accurate, it will remain on your report.
Reviewing your credit report regularly is a recommended step to catch mistakes early.
Dispute credit report errors as soon as you find them.
Accurate credit information supports better financial decisions.
* Dispute procedures and contact information can change. For the most current instructions, review the credit report you received or visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov.