How to dispute a credit report error: steps, deadlines and where to send it
Edited by Moe Ameen · Published
Disputing an error on your credit report is free. Write to the credit bureau showing the mistake, explain why it's wrong and include copies of supporting documents, and contact the company that reported it too. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate, 45 if you dispute after your free annual report, and must send results within five business days. If it's still wrong, you can file a CFPB complaint.
Key takeaways
- Disputes are free with both the bureau and the company that reported the information.
- Bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate, and five business days to send you the results.
- The CFPB publishes free sample dispute letters.
- You must dispute with the bureau before filing a CFPB complaint about it.
How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
In writing, to each bureau showing the error: say what's wrong and why, ask for a correction, and include copies of your documents.
- Pull your reports and mark the error. You can get them free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Write to the bureau. The CFPB suggests including your contact details, the report's confirmation number, the account number, what's wrong and why, and a highlighted copy of the report section [1].
- Attach copies, not originals, of documents that support your dispute [1].
- Write to the company that reported the information as well [1].
The CFPB publishes sample letters for both the bureau and the company that reported the error [3].
How long does a credit report dispute take?
Usually 30 days. It's 45 days if you dispute after getting your free annual report, and 15 more if you add information midway.
Those are the CFPB's timelines [2]. The bureau then has five business days to tell you the results [1]. If the dispute changes your report, the FTC says the bureau must send you a free copy, and the CFPB says it doesn't count as your annual free report [2][4].
Should I dispute with the credit bureau or the lender?
Both. The bureau forwards your evidence to the lender, but you can also dispute directly with the lender, which generally must investigate.
The FTC says the bureau forwards all the evidence you send to the business that reported the information [4]. Under Regulation V, a lender that receives a direct dispute about your liability, account terms or payment history must investigate and report back within the same deadline bureaus have [5]. If it finds the information was wrong, it must notify every bureau it reported to [5].
What if my dispute doesn't fix the error?
Ask the bureau to add a statement of dispute to your file, and file a complaint with the CFPB. Most companies respond within 15 days.
The FTC says you can ask for a statement of your dispute to be included in your file and in future reports [4]. The CFPB requires you to dispute with the bureau first before complaining about it, and says most companies respond to complaints within 15 days [6].
Should I pay a company to dispute errors for me?
You don't need to. The FTC says anything such a company can do legally, you can do yourself for little or no cost.
Federal law bars these companies from charging before they've done the work or lying about what they can do, and requires a written contract with a three-day right to cancel [7]. Accurate negative information can't be disputed away; it stays for set periods, covered in how long negative items stay.
Glisten check
Where to send a dispute, bureau by bureau
| Bureau | Online | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax | equifax.com credit dispute page [8] | (866) 349-5191 [1] | Address on Equifax's contact page; not on its dispute page [1] |
| Experian | experian.com/disputes [9] | (888) 397-3742 [1] | Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 [9] |
| TransUnion | dispute.transunion.com [11] | 800-916-8800 [10] | TransUnion Consumer Solutions, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000 [10] |
Equifax tells you it will report results within 30 days of your dispute [8], and Experian says online disputes are generally resolved within 30 days [9]. TransUnion accepts standard or certified mail [10].
Is this right for you?
Best for
- Anyone who found a wrong balance, late payment or account on their report.
- People who disputed once and got nowhere.
Not ideal for
- Removing accurate information. These rules cover errors only.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost money to dispute a credit report error?
No. The FTC says the bureau and the business that reported the information have to correct errors for free [4].
How we know this
On October 28, 2026 we read the CFPB's pages on disputing errors, dispute timelines and complaints, its sample letters, the FTC's pages on disputes and on paid help, Regulation V section 1022.43, and each bureau's own dispute pages.
- How do I dispute an error on my credit report?, CFPB. Checked October 28, 2026.
- How long does it take to repair an error on a credit report?, CFPB. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Sample letter to dispute a credit report error (PDF), CFPB. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Disputing errors on your credit reports, FTC. Checked October 28, 2026.
- 12 CFR 1022.43: Direct disputes, eCFR. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Submit a complaint, CFPB. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Credit help FAQs, FTC. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Credit dispute, Equifax. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Disputes, Experian. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Dispute by mail or phone, TransUnion. Checked October 28, 2026.
- Online dispute, TransUnion. Checked October 28, 2026.