How to Fix Credit Report Errors
One in five Americans has an error on their credit report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you have the legal right to dispute and remove inaccurate information — for free.
Dispute Errors with Credit2CreditWhat Are Credit Report Errors?
A credit report error is any inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information appearing on your Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion credit report. The FTC found that 1 in 5 consumers has a material error on at least one of their three credit reports. Even a single error can lower your score by 50–100 points.
Common Types of Credit Report Errors
Wrong Personal Information
Your name, address, or Social Security number is listed incorrectly — sometimes mixing your file with someone else's.
Accounts You Do Not Recognize
A credit account appears that you never opened. This could indicate identity theft or a mixed file.
Incorrect Account Status
A paid-off account shows as still owing a balance, or a closed account is shown as open.
Duplicate Accounts
The same debt appears more than once — often after a debt is sold to a collection agency.
Outdated Negative Items
Late payments and collections must be removed after 7 years. Items staying past their legal limit are disputable.
Wrong Payment History
A payment you made on time is reported as late, or a delinquency date is incorrect.
Your FCRA Rights
- Free credit reports: You are entitled to one free report from each bureau per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Right to dispute: You can dispute any information you believe is inaccurate — at no cost.
- 30-day investigation window: Bureaus must investigate your dispute within 30 days.
- Deletion of unverified items: If a creditor cannot verify the information, it must be removed.
How to Dispute a Credit Report Error — Step by Step
Pull all three credit reports
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports. Review each one carefully.
Document every error you find
Note the account name, account number, the specific incorrect information, and what the correct information should be.
File your dispute
Dispute online at each bureau's website, by certified mail, or use Credit2Credit's built-in dispute tools which handle all three bureaus from one dashboard.
Wait for the investigation result
The bureau has 30 days to investigate. If the creditor cannot verify the information, the item is deleted.
Check your updated report
After the investigation, review your updated report. If the error was removed, you should see your score improve within 30–60 days.
Dispute Errors Faster with Credit2Credit
Find an error and dispute it in minutes — without switching between three different bureau websites.
Start Your Free Dispute →