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To fix credit report errors, write to each credit bureau that shows the mistake and to the business that reported it. The bureau then has 30 days to investigate, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s guide to disputing errors on your credit reports. You can pull your reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Key numbers for fixing credit report errors
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Time the bureau has to investigate | 30 days |
| Free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com | Weekly from each bureau |
| Extra free Equifax reports through 2026 | 6 a year |
| Accurate negative items stay on a report | Up to 7 years |
| Bankruptcy information stays on a report | Up to 10 years |
| Recent recipients a bureau must notify on request | Past 6 months (2 years for employment) |
Step 1: find credit report errors in your reports
The FTC says you can get a free report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com. The bureaus also let you check each report once a week at that site. Through 2026, you can get six extra free Equifax reports a year through the Equifax website or by calling 1-866-349-5191.
Read each report for accounts you do not recognize, wrong balances and wrong personal details. The same error can appear on one report and not on the others, so check all three.
Step 2: dispute with each bureau
Write down what is wrong and why. Add copies of supporting documents, not originals. Attach a copy of your report with the errors circled. Keep copies of everything you send.
The FTC says to send the dispute by certified mail with a return receipt. You can also dispute online or by phone. The FTC page lists the mailing address and phone number for each bureau. Dispute with every bureau that shows the error.
Step 3: dispute with the business
Also write to the business that reported the information. State that you are disputing errors. Give your full name and address, each item that is wrong, and why. Include copies of supporting documents. If you cannot find a dispute address on your report or online, contact the business and ask for one.
What happens after you dispute
The bureau has 30 days to investigate. It passes your evidence to the business, which must investigate and report back. If the business finds the information wrong, it must tell all three bureaus.
The bureau must give you the results in writing. If your file changes, you get a free updated report, and it does not count toward your annual free report. If you ask, the bureau must notify anyone who got your report in the past six months. For employment, it must notify recipients from the past two years.
A bureau can stop if it decides a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant. In that case it must tell you why. You may need to send more evidence.
If the dispute does not fix the error
If the investigation does not settle the matter, you can add a statement of dispute to your file. The statement tells anyone who reads the report that you disagree with the item.
Check the result
After the investigation, pull your report again. Confirm that the wrong information is gone. If it is still there, confirm that the bureau added a notice saying you dispute it.
Not every negative item is an error. Accurate negative information can stay on a report for up to seven years. Bankruptcy information can stay for up to 10 years. Disputing accurate information will not remove it.
Identity theft and scams
If the credit report errors came from identity theft, the FTC points to IdentityTheft.gov. To report scams or bad business practices, it points to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Fixing credit report errors can matter for your budget, since credit reports affect loan rates. The Jolt Journal’s report on mortgage rates at 7.4% shows why. Its guide on how to make a budget can help you plan around any change.
