Find and fix credit report errors.
Find what’s wrong, learn how to dispute it, and check whether your reports were updated.
Dispute credit report errors before trying to build new credit. If something on your credit report is inaccurate, start by confirming the error and gathering records that support your dispute. Then dispute it with the credit bureau reporting it and, when appropriate, the company that provided the information. Follow up on the result and confirm your report was updated.
Start with your credit report before trying to build new credit. If something looks wrong, check it against your records. Gather what supports a correction, then dispute the error and follow up.
First, make sure it’s an error
- Information is incorrect: Compare balances, payments, dates, account status, and personal details with your records.
- An account isn’t yours: An unfamiliar account could be a reporting mistake or a sign of identity theft.
- A debt seems to appear twice: Read each entry closely. The same debt appearing with different bureaus is not itself an error. An original account and a collection account may also both appear.
How to fix an error on your credit report
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Review each report | Check Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. An error may appear on only one report. |
| 2. Pin down what’s wrong | Note the exact account or detail you believe is inaccurate. |
| 3. Gather records | Save statements, payment records, or messages that support your correction. |
| 4. File a dispute | Explain the suspected error to the bureau reporting it and share your records. When appropriate, contact the company that supplied the information, too. |
| 5. Keep a copy | Save what you sent, when you sent it, and any response or case number. |
| 6. Review the result | The information may be corrected, removed, or left unchanged. If it remains, read the reason given and consider whether more evidence supports another dispute. |
| 7. Check your reports again | Confirm the result on every report that showed the error. |
What to check
- Each affected report: Make sure the change appears wherever the error was reported.
- Account details: Check the balance, payment history, status, dates, and other details you disputed.
- The dispute result: Compare the bureau’s response with your updated report and your records.
After your report is corrected
An accurate report gives you a better starting point. Check it again before deciding what else may help your credit. A correction does not guarantee a higher score.
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