Credit reports contain mistakes. A wrong balance, a payment marked late, an account that is not yours. The law gives you a way to fix them, but you must start it.
The method
Get the report and mark the error
Download the report as explained in reading your credit report. Highlight the item that is wrong.
Collect your proof
Statements, payment confirmations, letters and screenshots. Keep the originals and send copies.
Write to the bureau
Say what is wrong, why it is wrong and what you want done. Ask them to correct or delete it. Send it in a way that gives you a record.
Write to the company that reported it
The lender or collector that supplied the information must also investigate. Send them a copy of your letter and proof.
Follow up
Keep copies, note the dates and wait for the results.
Day 0
You send the dispute
Send it by a method that leaves a record, or use the bureau's online form.
About 30 days
The bureau investigates
Most investigations need to be finished in about a month.
After
You get the result
You receive a written result and a free copy of your updated report.
What to say
Be specific. Name the account, the amount and what is incorrect.
What to attach
Copies of bills, receipts and payment records.
What to ask
Correct or remove the entry, and send an updated report.
What to keep
A copy of everything you sent and a log of your dates.
What a good letter looks like
Keep it short and factual. For example:
I am disputing the entry for account ending 1234 shown on my report dated 5 October. The balance is listed as $2,300 but the account was paid in full on 12 August. A copy of my payment confirmation is attached. Please correct the entry and send me an updated report.
Include your name, address and the report number, and sign it.
Common mistakes
Disputing everything at once. Focus on the clear errors and attach proof for each.
Sending only to the bureau. The company that supplied the data must also be told.
Sending your only copy. Keep the originals and send copies.
Forgetting to follow up. Note the date and check your report again after the result.
Patience pays. Most disputes are settled within weeks when the proof is clear, so keep your letter short, your file organized and your tone calm.
Questions people ask
Will disputing hurt my score?
No. A dispute itself does not lower your score. If the information is corrected or removed, the score may go up.
Can I dispute information that is correct but negative?
A bureau may keep accurate information. The right to a dispute is about errors, and negative but accurate items usually stay for their normal period.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 5, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.