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CREDIT

How do I dispute an error on my credit report?

SHORT ANSWER

Dispute in writing with each bureau reporting the error, include documentation, and they generally must investigate within 30 days. Unverifiable information must be removed. Dispute with the furnisher too.

Credit report errors are common and fixable — federal law puts the burden on the bureaus. Pull your reports from all three bureaus (free at the official annualcreditreport.com), identify errors precisely — accounts that aren’t yours, wrong balances, incorrectly-reported lates, out-of-date negative items — and dispute in writing with each bureau showing the error, attaching proof. They generally have 30 days to investigate; information they can’t verify must be deleted. Dispute simultaneously with the furnisher (the lender reporting it). Keep everything: certified mail, copies, their responses. If a bureau "verifies" a genuine error, escalate — CFPB complaints get responses, and persistent violations create legal claims.

What to do, in order

  1. Pull all three reports from annualcreditreport.com.
  2. Identify each error specifically, with supporting documents.
  3. Dispute in writing with each bureau reporting it.
  4. Dispute with the furnisher (the reporting lender) too.
  5. Escalate unresolved errors to the CFPB; keep every record.

Common questions

How long does a credit dispute take?

Bureaus generally must investigate within 30 days (45 in some cases) and inform you of results. Unverifiable items must be removed.

What if the bureau verifies information that’s actually wrong?

Re-dispute with stronger documentation, file a CFPB complaint, and consider a direct dispute with the furnisher — repeated wrongful verification can support legal claims.

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Main AI explains documents and general legal rights in clear terms. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — verify specifics for your jurisdiction, and consult a licensed professional for advice on your situation.