How to File a Dispute
It’s important to regularly check your credit report from all three major consumer credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Your credit score can determine your ability to obtain a loan, how much interest you pay and even affect your employability. However, there are occasionally errors on these reports, so knowing how to dispute errors on a credit report is just as important as catching the mistakes.
If you catch mistakes on a credit report, collect documentation to support your case and open an official dispute with the consumer credit card monitoring service. Allow the bureau 30 business days to respond.
You can submit your dispute through the bureau’s website. Documentation can include credit card statements or canceled checks as well as proof of identity or a utility bill confirming your address.
You can also submit a dispute by mail. Include the following:
• Name and current address
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Reason for your dispute
• Note which item or items you think should be corrected and explain why. If you're disputing an account, include the account number.
• Send copies of supporting documents- not originals.
If your dispute is accepted, the bureau will change the information on your credit report.
If part of the report you believe is an error reflects the information the bureau has received, might need to talk with the creditor or other source of the data. Ask that source to correct the information it is reporting.
If the error shows up on credit reports produced by other credit bureaus, you will also need to file disputes with those entities.
