Fix errors on your report
Report errors are common and cost you points. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you can dispute them for free, and the bureau must investigate.
Education only — not financial or legal advice, and we sell nothing. Everything a paid “credit repair” service does, you can do yourself for free with the tools below.
- Get your free reports. Pull all three at AnnualCreditReport.com — the only federally authorized free source (now free weekly). Never pay for your own report.
- Find the errors. Wrong balances, accounts that aren’t yours, duplicate or stale negatives, a late mark you actually paid on time.
- Dispute with the bureau. File online or by mail with each bureau showing the error. Under the FCRA they must investigate — usually within 30 days — and correct or remove anything unverifiable.
- Dispute with the furnisher too. Also notify whoever reported it (the bank/lender). Keep copies of everything and a log of dates.
- Escalate if needed. If it isn’t fixed, file a complaint with the CFPB (consumerfinance.gov/complaint). It’s free and effective.
The three nationwide bureaus
| Equifax | www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/ |
| Experian | www.experian.com/disputes/main.html |
| TransUnion | www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit |