Credit Report Dispute Letter Builder: Free Letter for Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

A credit report error can cost you a loan approval or a better rate, and you have the right to get it fixed for free.

How to dispute a credit report error, step by step

1. Get all three reports. Download your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site. An error may show up at one bureau but not the others.
2. Circle each mistake and gather proof: payment confirmations, bank statements, a paid-in-full letter or a closed-account notice.
3. Dispute with each bureau that shows the error. Use the letter above, or dispute online or by phone. Mail creates the best paper trail; send it certified with a return receipt.
4. Dispute with the company that reported it, too. Lenders and collectors must investigate direct disputes and correct the information with every bureau they report to.
5. Check the results. The bureau must send you the outcome in writing, plus a free updated report if anything changed. Pull your report again to confirm the fix.

Deadlines the law sets

• 30 days for a credit bureau to investigate, or 45 days if you dispute after getting your free annual report. Sending new information during the investigation can add up to 15 days.
• 5 business days for the bureau to forward your dispute and documents to the company that reported the item.
• 5 business days after the investigation ends for the bureau to send you the results.
• 4 business days to block information that resulted from identity theft once the bureau has your identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov and proof of identity.

What you can and can’t dispute

You can dispute anything that is inaccurate or incomplete: accounts that aren’t yours, late payments you didn’t make, wrong balances, paid debts still shown as unpaid, duplicate listings, outdated negative items and wrong personal details. Accurate negative information, such as a late payment that really happened, can generally stay for 7 years. Chapter 7 bankruptcies can stay for 10. No one, including a paid credit repair company, can legally remove accurate, timely information, and credit repair companies can’t charge you before they’ve done the work.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to dispute online or by mail?

Online is faster and the bureau has the same 30 days to investigate either way. A mailed letter sent certified with a return receipt gives you proof of what you sent and when it arrived, which helps if you later need to file a complaint or take further action.

Will disputing hurt my credit score?

No. Filing a dispute doesn’t lower your score. If the investigation corrects or removes a negative item, your score may go up. Some lenders may ask you to resolve open disputes before a mortgage closes, so start early if you plan to buy a home.

What if the bureau says the information is verified?

Dispute directly with the company that reported it and send any new proof. You can also ask the bureau to add a brief statement of dispute to your file, and submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Should I include my Social Security number?

Bureaus need enough information to find your file, usually your full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. The letter leaves blanks for your date of birth and the last 4 digits of your SSN so you can write them in by hand. Send copies of documents, never originals or your Social Security card.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission, “Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports” (bureau addresses and steps); Fair Credit Reporting Act sections 605, 605B, 611 and 623; Regulation V, 12 CFR 1022.43; Credit Repair Organizations Act. This tool helps you write your own letter and is not legal advice.

Related: Loan Denial Decoder, Credit Utilization Calculator, Credit Score Guide, How Credit Scores Affect Loans.