If you need to dispute a credit report error, federal law gives you the right to challenge information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, and the dispute itself is free. The usual approach is to dispute with the credit bureau that shows the mistake and with the company that supplied the information, which is called the furnisher.
This step-by-step guide follows official guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It covers what to include in your dispute, how long investigations usually take, where to find official sample letters and what to do if your dispute is not resolved.
Key takeaways
- Start by getting your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and marking every item you believe is wrong.
- Dispute in writing with each credit bureau that shows the error, and with the business that reported it. Send copies of your proof, never originals.
- Credit bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate, and 45 days in some cases. Furnishers generally must investigate and respond within 30 days.
- If the dispute is not resolved, you can add a statement of dispute to your file and submit a complaint to the CFPB.
- Errors caused by identity theft should also be reported at IdentityTheft.gov.
Step 1: Get your reports and find the errors
You cannot dispute what you have not seen, so start with your reports. You can get free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. The FTC says the bureaus offer free weekly online reports there. Our guide on how to get your free credit report explains the options.
The bureaus may not have the same information about you, so review all three reports. The CFPB lists common errors to look for:
- Identity errors: a wrong name, address or phone number, accounts that belong to someone with a similar name, or accounts opened through identity theft.
- Account status errors: closed accounts shown as open, being listed as an owner when you are only an authorized user, accounts wrongly marked late, wrong dates, or the same debt listed more than once.
- Data errors: an incorrect balance or credit limit.
Keep in mind that disputes are for information that is inaccurate or incomplete. According to the FTC, accurate negative information, such as late payments, can generally stay on your report for seven years, and bankruptcy information can stay for 10 years.
Step 2: Gather your proof
A clear dispute with documents is easier for the bureau to investigate. A CFPB handout on disputing errors suggests collecting:
- A copy of your credit report with the error circled or highlighted
- Documents that show the error, such as paid bills or cleared checks
- Copies of identity documents, if the error involves your personal information
Send copies only and keep the originals. Keep a copy of everything you send, along with notes of any calls.
Step 3: Dispute the credit report error with the credit bureau
File a dispute with each bureau whose report shows the mistake. You can dispute online, by mail or by phone. The CFPB recommends that a written dispute include:
- Your full name, address and phone number
- Your credit report confirmation number, if you have one
- Each error you are disputing, with the account number for any disputed account
- An explanation of why the information is wrong
- A request that the item be corrected or removed
- A copy of the relevant part of your report with the disputed items circled or highlighted
- Copies, not originals, of documents that support your position
The CFPB handout suggests listing each error separately. Some bureaus have their own dispute form, and you can include a letter explaining the mistakes along with it. If you mail your dispute, both the FTC and CFPB suggest certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery.
Bureau dispute contacts
The FTC and CFPB list these contacts. Each bureau also accepts disputes on its website.
| Bureau | Dispute mailing address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax | P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30348 | (866) 349-5191 |
| Experian | P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 | (888) 397-3742 |
| TransUnion | Consumer Dispute Center, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 | (800) 916-8800 |
Before mailing, check the dispute instructions on your report or the bureau’s website in case an address has changed.
Step 4: Dispute with the company that furnished the information
Furnishers are the businesses that send information to the bureaus, such as banks, credit card issuers and landlords. The CFPB says you may need to dispute with both the bureau and the furnisher. To dispute with a furnisher:
- Write to the furnisher, preferably by certified mail.
- Use the address shown on your credit report, or the address the furnisher specifies for credit disputes. If you cannot find one, the FTC suggests asking the business for its dispute address.
- Include your name and address, each item you believe is wrong, why it is wrong, and copies of supporting documents.
According to the CFPB, furnishers generally must investigate and respond within 30 days of receiving your dispute. If the furnisher finds the information is wrong, or cannot verify it, it must correct or remove it and notify all the credit reporting companies. If the furnisher keeps reporting an item you disputed, the FTC says it must tell the bureaus about your dispute, and the bureaus must note that you dispute the item.
Official sample letters you can use
You do not need special wording, but official templates can help you organize your dispute. Both agencies publish free sample letters that you fill in with your own details:
- The CFPB’s sample letters page has one letter for the credit reporting company and one for the furnisher, each with instructions.
- The FTC has a sample letter for credit bureaus and a sample letter for the business that supplied the information.
The FTC’s bureau letter follows a simple structure. It starts with your contact details and the bureau’s address. It then identifies each disputed item, explains why the item is inaccurate or incomplete, and asks for it to be corrected or deleted. It ends with a list of the documents you enclosed. Replace every placeholder with your own facts, and do not send a generic letter that does not name specific errors.
What happens after you file: timelines
Once a bureau receives your dispute, it must investigate and forward your evidence to the furnisher. The furnisher must investigate and report back. Here are the key timeframes from the FTC and CFPB:
| Stage | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Credit bureau investigation | Generally 30 days (45 days in some cases) |
| Furnisher investigation and response after receiving your dispute | Generally 30 days |
| Bureau notice of results after finishing the investigation | Within five business days |
| Notice if a bureau decides a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant | Within five business days of that decision |
The bureau must give you the results in writing. If your dispute leads to a change, the FTC says you get a free copy of your report, and it does not count as your free annual report. You can also ask the bureau to send a corrected notice to anyone who received your report in the past six months, or in the past two years for employment purposes.
A bureau can decline to investigate a dispute it reasonably considers frivolous or irrelevant, such as one that does not say what is wrong. The CFPB says it must explain why in a notice. You may then need to resubmit with more detail or evidence.
Afterward, check your report again. The FTC suggests confirming that the error was removed or, if the item stays, that it is marked as disputed.
If your dispute is rejected or not resolved
If the bureau or furnisher says the information is accurate and you still disagree, you have several options:
- Add a statement of dispute. You can ask the bureau to include a statement explaining your dispute in your file. The CFPB says this statement is shown to anyone who requests your report in the future. The FTC notes you can also ask the bureau to send it to recent recipients of your report, which may involve a fee.
- Submit a complaint to the CFPB. You can file online at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or by phone at (855) 411-2372. The CFPB says you must first dispute inaccurate information directly with the reporting company before complaining about it. The CFPB sends your complaint to the company, which usually responds within 15 days. In some cases the company first says a response is in progress and then gives a final response within 60 days.
- Consider legal help. The CFPB handout notes that you may want to talk with a lawyer.
Be careful with credit repair offers
You can dispute errors yourself for free. The FTC warns that no one can legally remove information that is accurate and up to date. It also says it is illegal for a credit repair company to charge you before it helps you. Be wary of anyone who promises to remove all negative information. See our Reader safety page for more on avoiding scams.
When the error comes from identity theft
If accounts on your report were opened by someone else, treat it as identity theft. The FTC’s recovery steps include:
- Contact the companies where the fraud happened. Ask their fraud departments to close or freeze the affected accounts, and change your logins, passwords and PINs.
- Place a fraud alert. Contact one bureau for a free one-year alert, and that bureau must tell the other two. The FTC also suggests considering a credit freeze.
- Review your credit reports for accounts or activity you do not recognize.
- Report it at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC’s site gives you a free personal recovery plan with next steps.
The FTC says an identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov, or a police report, also lets you place an extended fraud alert that lasts seven years. Scammers sometimes use fake job postings to collect Social Security numbers and bank details. Our guide on how to spot a fake job offer covers the warning signs.
Note: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm details with the official source or a qualified professional. See our Disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a credit report dispute take?
The FTC says a credit bureau has 30 days to investigate your dispute, and the CFPB notes it can be 45 days in some cases. The bureau then has five business days to tell you the results. Furnishers generally must respond within 30 days of receiving a dispute sent directly to them.
Does it cost anything to dispute an error?
No. The CFPB says that, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, companies must investigate your dispute free of charge. A credit repair company cannot legally charge you before it helps you, according to the FTC.
Should I dispute with the bureau, the lender or both?
The CFPB says you may need to dispute with both the credit reporting company and the furnisher. The FTC advises disputing with each credit bureau that has the error on its report.
Can I remove accurate negative information?
No. The FTC says accurate, up-to-date information cannot legally be removed. Accurate negative information, such as late payments, generally stays for seven years, and bankruptcy information can stay for 10 years.
What if the bureau says my dispute is frivolous?
The CFPB says a bureau can decline a dispute it reasonably considers frivolous or irrelevant, such as one that does not identify what is wrong. It must send you a notice explaining why within five business days of that decision. You can then resubmit with more detail and supporting documents.
Official sources
- How do I dispute an error on my credit report? – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- What are common credit report errors that I should look for? – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Disputing errors on your credit reports (PDF) – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Sample letters to dispute information on a credit report – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Submit a complaint – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- List of consumer reporting companies – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports – Federal Trade Commission
- Sample Letter to Credit Bureaus Disputing Errors on Credit Reports – Federal Trade Commission
- Sample Letter Disputing Errors on Credit Reports to the Business that Supplied the Information – Federal Trade Commission
- Only scammers say they’ll remove all negative information from your credit report – Federal Trade Commission
- How to recover from identity theft – Federal Trade Commission
- Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts – Federal Trade Commission
Last checked: November 6, 2026. We review this guide when the official rules change.