How to Dispute Negative Items on Your Credit Report
How to dispute your credit report with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion online, by mail or phone, plus a sample letter. Bureaus get 30 days to investigate.
The short answer
To dispute your credit report, file a dispute with each bureau showing the error (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) online, by mail or by phone, explain what is wrong and attach proof. The bureau must investigate within 30 days under FCRA section 611 (15 U.S.C. 1681i), or 45 days if you send more information during the investigation or dispute after getting your free annual report, and it must delete anything it cannot verify.
- Disputing errors is free. You never have to pay anyone to file a dispute with a credit bureau or a lender.
- A bureau has 30 days to investigate, extended to 45 days in two cases, and must send you the results within 5 business days of finishing.
- You can also dispute directly with the lender or collector (the furnisher) under FCRA section 623, 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2.
- In a 2013 FTC study, 1 in 5 consumers had an error on at least one of their three credit reports, and 1 in 4 found an error that could affect their scores.
- If a dispute is rejected you can ask how the item was verified, add a statement of dispute, re-dispute with new evidence or file a CFPB complaint.
You have a federal right to dispute anything on your credit report you believe is wrong, and it costs nothing. This guide walks through exactly how to file with each bureau, how to go straight to the lender, what to put in the letter, and what to do if the answer comes back "verified."
What you can dispute
The Fair Credit Reporting Act lets you dispute information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Errors are common. In a 2013 FTC study, 1 in 5 consumers had an error on at least one of their three reports, and 1 in 4 found an error that could affect their scores. In 2024, incorrect information on a report was again the most common complaint the CFPB received, according to its 2024 Consumer Response Annual Report.
Common errors worth disputing:
- Accounts that are not yours (mixed files or identity theft)
- Late payments you can prove were paid on time
- Wrong balances, credit limits or account status, such as a paid collection still showing a balance
- The same debt listed twice, for example by the original creditor and a collector both showing a balance
- A wrong date of first delinquency, which can keep an item on your report too long
- Items older than the reporting limit (7 years for most negatives, 10 years for some bankruptcies, under 15 U.S.C. 1681c)
- Wrong personal information, such as an address or name you never used
Accurate negative items that the furnisher verifies stay on your report for the legal period. A dispute is a tool for fixing mistakes, not for removing true history.
Before you file
- Get all three reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. The bureaus offer free weekly reports there.
- Compare the three. An error often shows on one or two reports, not all three, and you dispute only with the bureau that shows it.
- List each error with the account name, the partial account number and what exactly is wrong.
- Gather proof: bank statements, payment confirmations, a paid in full or settlement letter, court records, a police or FTC identity theft report.
- Make copies. Never send originals.
If you need help pulling the reports, see how to get all three credit reports.
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How to dispute with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion
Each bureau accepts disputes online, by mail and by phone. Contact details below match what the CFPB lists. Confirm the mailing address on the bureau's site before you send anything, because addresses do change.
| Bureau | Online | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax | equifax.com dispute page | (866) 349-5191 | Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374 (use the address on the Equifax dispute form) |
| Experian | experian.com/disputes | (888) 397-3742 | Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 |
| TransUnion | dispute.transunion.com | (800) 916-8800 | TransUnion Consumer Solutions, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 (see the TransUnion mail page) |
Online disputes
Online is the fastest option. You log in or create an account, select the item, pick a reason and upload documents. You get a confirmation number and can track progress. The downside is that the reason menus are narrow, so use the free text box to explain the error in one or two specific sentences, and upload your proof.
Mail disputes
Mail takes longer but gives you the best record. Send a letter (sample below) by certified mail with a return receipt. The receipt date proves when the 30-day clock started. Include copies of a photo ID and a recent utility bill or bank statement so the bureau can confirm who you are.
Phone disputes
Phone works for a simple, clear error. Write down the date, the representative's name and the confirmation number. You usually cannot send documents during a call, so if your case depends on proof, use online or mail instead.
Whichever channel you use, dispute one item per entry or per paragraph, and dispute with every bureau that shows the error.
How to dispute directly with the lender or collector
The company that reported the information (the furnisher) has its own duties under FCRA section 623, 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2. Disputing with it directly is smart when the mistake started there, like a payment it posted late.
- Find the dispute address. Check your report (furnishers often list one) or your account statements. Regulation V says you must send direct disputes to the address the furnisher gives for disputes, or to any business address if none is given (12 CFR 1022.43).
- Write a letter that identifies the account, explains the specific error and includes copies of your proof.
- Send it by certified mail.
The furnisher generally must investigate within the same 30-day window a bureau gets, report the results to you, and correct the information with every bureau it reports to if it was wrong. While your dispute is open, it should not keep reporting the item without noting that you dispute it.
Two related rules help here. When a bureau forwards your dispute, the furnisher must investigate under 1681s-2(b). And if the item is a collection, you can also send a debt validation request to the collector under the FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692g, ideally within 30 days of its first notice. See what to do if a debt collector never sent a written notice.
What to include in a dispute
- Your full name, current address, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number
- Each disputed item: creditor name, partial account number and the exact information you dispute
- Why it is wrong, in one or two plain sentences ("I paid this on March 3, 2025, see attached bank statement")
- What you want done: correct the status, update the balance or delete the item
- Copies of your proof, numbered and listed at the bottom
- Copies of your ID and proof of address
Keep it short and factual. Long letters, legal jargon and form language copied from the internet make it harder for the bureau to see your actual point. For more on wording, read how to write an effective credit dispute letter.
Sample credit bureau dispute letter
[DATE]
[BUREAU NAME] [BUREAU DISPUTE MAILING ADDRESS]
Re: Dispute of inaccurate information, report number [REPORT OR CONFIRMATION NUMBER IF YOU HAVE ONE]
To whom it may concern:
I am writing under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681i, to dispute the following information in my credit file. The items are also circled on the attached copy of my report.
Creditor: [CREDITOR NAME]. Account number ending in: [XXXX]. What is wrong: [EXAMPLE: This account shows a 30-day late payment for June 2025. I paid on time on June 12, 2025.] Proof: [EXAMPLE: Bank statement showing the payment, enclosed as Exhibit A.] Requested action: [EXAMPLE: Remove the late payment notation and report the account as paid as agreed.]
Creditor: [CREDITOR NAME]. Account number ending in: [XXXX]. What is wrong: [EXAMPLE: This collection is not mine. I have never had an account with this creditor.] Proof: [EXAMPLE: FTC identity theft report, enclosed as Exhibit B.] Requested action: [EXAMPLE: Delete this account from my file.]
Please investigate these items, forward my documents to the furnishers, and correct or delete any information that is inaccurate, incomplete or cannot be verified. Please send me the results in writing and an updated copy of my report. If any item is verified, please also send a description of the procedure used to verify it, including the name, address and phone number of the furnisher, as provided in 15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(6) and (a)(7).
Sincerely, [SIGNATURE] [PRINTED NAME]
Enclosures: Copy of government-issued photo ID Copy of utility bill or bank statement showing current address Copy of credit report with disputed items circled Exhibit A: [DESCRIPTION] Exhibit B: [DESCRIPTION]
What happens after you file
These are the deadlines in 15 U.S.C. 1681i:
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Bureau notifies the furnisher of your dispute | Within 5 business days of receiving it |
| Bureau finishes its investigation | 30 days from receipt |
| Extended deadline if you send more information during the 30 days | Up to 15 more days (45 total) |
| Deadline if you dispute after receiving your free annual report | 45 days, under 15 U.S.C. 1681j(a)(3) |
| Bureau sends you written results | Within 5 business days after it finishes |
| Bureau gives you a description of how it verified an item, if you ask | Within 15 days of your request |
The result will say the item was deleted, updated or verified as reported. If the item changed, you get a free updated report. You can also ask the bureau to send the correction to anyone who pulled your report in the last 6 months, or the last 2 years for employment checks (1681i(d)).
If the bureau decides your dispute is frivolous, for example because it gave too little information, it must tell you within 5 business days and say what it needs. Send it again with the missing details.
If your dispute is rejected
A "verified" result is not the end. Work through these in order:
- Request the method of verification. Write to the bureau asking for a description of the procedure it used, including the furnisher's name, address and phone number. It must answer within 15 days (1681i(a)(7)). This often shows that the bureau only matched data with the furnisher electronically.
- Re-dispute with new evidence. A bureau can treat a repeat dispute with no new information as frivolous. Add something new: a statement, a letter from the creditor, a payment record.
- Dispute with the furnisher directly if you have not already, using the steps above.
- Add a statement of dispute. Under 1681i(b) you can add a brief statement to your file, and the bureau can limit it to 100 words if it helps you write it. Future reports will show that you dispute the item. It does not change your score, but a lender reading the report will see your side.
- File a complaint. Submit one at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Companies must respond, and in 2024 they reported providing relief in more than half of credit reporting complaints. You can also contact your state attorney general.
- Get legal advice for serious errors. The FCRA lets you sue for willful or negligent violations (15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o). Consult an attorney for your situation if an error is costing you a loan or job and the bureau will not fix it.
For a full list of your legal rights, see our guide to credit report rights under the FCRA, FDCPA and CROA. For item-specific steps, see how to remove collections and how to dispute a charge-off.
Doing it yourself or getting help
Everything in this guide you can do yourself for free. Where people get stuck is volume and follow-through: several items across three bureaus, deadlines to track and second rounds to write.
Credit Saint prepares and sends disputes to all three bureaus and writes to creditors on your behalf, with plans from $79.99 a month and a 90-day money-back guarantee. We cannot promise that any item will be removed, and accurate items that are verified stay on your report. You can see how it works before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to dispute online or by mail?
Online is fastest and lets you track the status, and it works well for simple errors. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you the strongest paper trail and lets you include exactly the documents you want, which helps for complicated or repeat disputes. Many people file online first and switch to mail if the first round fails.
How long does a credit bureau have to investigate a dispute?
The bureau generally has 30 days from receiving your dispute. That can stretch to 45 days if you send more information during the 30 days, or if you dispute after getting your free annual report. The bureau must send you the results within 5 business days after it finishes.
Will disputing an item hurt my credit score?
No. Filing a dispute is not a negative event and does not lower your score. Your score changes only if the item is corrected, updated or deleted. Some lenders, especially mortgage lenders, may ask you to resolve open disputes before closing a loan.
Can I dispute accurate negative information?
You can only dispute information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, and accurate items that the furnisher verifies will stay for the period the law allows. Most late payments and collections can report for 7 years under FCRA section 605. Filing false disputes can get them marked frivolous, which the bureau can decline to investigate.
Should I dispute with the bureau or the lender?
You can do both. A bureau dispute is the most common route and starts the section 611 investigation. A direct dispute with the lender or collector makes sense when the error started with them, such as a wrong payment status, and it must also be investigated within 30 days in most cases.
What if the bureau says my disputed item was verified?
Ask the bureau in writing for a description of how it verified the item, which it must provide within 15 days. Then send a new dispute with any evidence you did not include before, add a statement of dispute to your file, or file a complaint with the CFPB. For serious or repeated errors, consult an attorney for your situation.
Can a deleted item come back on my report?
Yes, but only if the furnisher certifies that the information is complete and accurate. The bureau must notify you in writing within 5 business days of putting it back, and tell you how to reach the furnisher.
This article is for educational purposes and isn't legal advice. Credit Saint is a credit repair organization. Results vary, and no credit repair company can promise a specific outcome or score change.
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