How to dispute a credit report error with the credit bureaus

If you find a mistake on your credit report, you have the right to dispute it with the credit bureau that’s reporting it. It doesn’t cost anything, and you can do it yourself. Here’s how the process works, one step at a time.

Why it’s worth checking for errors

The FTC points out that the information in your credit reports can affect whether you get a loan and how much you pay for it. It can also play a role in jobs, insurance and renting a home. That’s why it’s worth making sure what’s in your file is correct.

You can get free copies of your reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. The FTC says the three bureaus have permanently extended a program that lets you check your reports there every week.

Look at each report separately. An error might show up with one bureau and not the others, and the FTC says to dispute with each bureau that has the mistake.

Step 1: Gather what you need

Before you write anything, pull together the details that show what’s wrong. According to the CFPB, a written dispute should include:

• Your full name, address and phone number
• Your credit report confirmation number, if you have one
• Each error you’re disputing, with the account number for any account involved
• A clear explanation of why the information is wrong
• A request that the error be corrected or removed
• A copy of the part of your report that has the error, with the items circled or highlighted
• Copies of documents that support your dispute

Send copies, not originals. Keep your originals and a copy of everything you send.

If the error looks like an account you never opened, it could be a sign of identity theft. The FTC says you can report it and get a personal recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.

Step 2: Write your dispute

The FTC suggests explaining in writing what you think is wrong. If the bureau has its own dispute form, include that too. Keep your letter focused on the facts. Name each item, say why it’s inaccurate, and point to the documents that back you up.

The FTC has a sample letter for disputing errors with the credit bureaus that you can use as a starting point.

Step 3: Send it to the bureau

You can dispute by mail, online or by phone. If you mail it, both the FTC and the CFPB mention certified mail with a return receipt, so you have a record that it arrived.

Contact details

As of November 2026, the FTC and CFPB list these phone numbers and mailing addresses:

• Equifax: (866) 349-5191, or online at equifax.com. Mail: Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30348.
• Experian: (888) 397-3742, or online at experian.com. Mail: P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, with Experian’s dispute form.
• TransUnion: (800) 916-8800, or online at dispute.transunion.com. Mail: TransUnion LLC Consumer Dispute Center, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, with TransUnion’s dispute form.

Whichever way you choose, write down the date you sent your dispute. That date matters for the timeline that follows.

Step 4: Know what the bureau has to do

The Fair Credit Reporting Act sets out what happens once a bureau gets your dispute. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, the bureau must:

• Do a reasonable reinvestigation, free of charge, generally within 30 days of receiving your dispute
• Notify the business that supplied the information within 5 business days, passing along the relevant information you sent
• Review and consider all the relevant information you submit
• Delete or modify information that turns out to be inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable
• Send you written results within 5 business days after it finishes

The 30-day window can be extended by up to 15 days if you send the bureau more relevant information during that time.

A bureau can stop investigating if it reasonably decides your dispute is “frivolous or irrelevant,” for example if you didn’t give it enough information to look into. If that happens, the law says it has to tell you within 5 business days, explain why, and say what information it needs. You may need to send more evidence.

Step 5: Follow up

When the bureau finishes, the FTC says it must give you the results in writing. If your dispute leads to a change, you also get a free copy of your report, and that copy doesn’t count as your annual free report.

If you ask, the bureau must send notice of a correction to anyone who got your report in the past six months, or in the past two years for employment purposes. After that, check your report to confirm the change was made.

It’s also a good idea to dispute with the business that supplied the information. Read more in disputing directly with the furnisher, and see your credit rights for an overview. If you have a problem with a bureau, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

The short version

• Dispute in writing with each bureau that shows the error, and include copies of your supporting documents.
• Send it by certified mail with a return receipt, or use the bureau’s online or phone options, and keep records.
• The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate, with up to 15 more days in some cases.
• You’ll get written results, plus a free report if anything changes.
• Disputing is free, and accurate information stays on your report.

Sources

• FTC: Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports
• CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
• 15 U.S.C. 1681i: Procedure in case of disputed accuracy

General information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and government guidance change, so check the sources above for the latest.