The credit dispute process

A dispute is a request that a bureau, a creditor, or a collector look again at information on your report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act the bureau must investigate and answer you. This topic walks through each way to file and what happens afterward.

Three places to dispute

• With each bureau. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each handle disputes about what appears on their own report.
• With the furnisher. The creditor or collector that reported the information can be disputed directly.
• Through the CFPB. If the first two do not resolve it, you can file a complaint. See escalation.

The guides

• How to dispute a credit report error: the complete process
• Equifax online dispute walkthrough
• Experian online dispute walkthrough
• TransUnion online dispute walkthrough
• How to dispute by mail
• The 30-day dispute timeline
• How to dispute directly with the creditor or collector

The dispute deadline calculator shows when a bureau’s 30 days run out.

Sources

• Cornell LII: 15 U.S.C. 1681i (procedure in case of disputed accuracy)
• CFPB: credit reports and scores

Next steps

• How to dispute a credit report error: the complete process

  The full process for disputing a credit report error yourself: get reports, mark errors, gather proof, file with each bureau, track 30 days, read the result.

• What happens after you file a dispute: the 30-day timeline

  The credit dispute timeline under the FCRA: when the 30 days start, the 5-business-day notice to the furnisher, the possible 15-day extension, and the results.

• Credit dispute deadline calculator

  Enter the date a credit bureau received your dispute and see when its 30-day investigation period ends, and the 45-day date if it was extended.