How to dispute a suspected credit-report error

Organize the issue, notify the right companies and keep a clean receipt trail.

Identify the exact issue

Pull the report, find the company and account, and write down what appears wrong. Avoid broad statements when a date, balance, status or identity detail is the real concern.

Send a clear dispute

The CFPB explains that consumers can dispute suspected errors with the credit-reporting company and the business that supplied the information.

  • Keep the request factual and specific.
  • Include copies, not original documents.
  • Keep proof of what was sent and when.
  • Review every response against the original concern.
Important: This article is general education, not legal advice, a credit or lending decision, an offer of financing or a promise of any result. Provider terms and state requirements may differ.