How do I dispute an error on my credit report? — consumerfinance.gov

Summary

Discovering an error on your credit report can be daunting, but consumerfinance.gov offers a guide to dispute inaccuracies. Reach out to the credit reporting agency or the furnisher of the information, such as banks or credit card companies. Be prepared with personal details, an explanation of the error, supporting evidence, and your report confirmation number. Follow the step-by-step instructions on consumerfinance.gov/credit for sample letters and a clear dispute process, ensuring you keep records of all communications.

Takeaways

• 🔍 If you find an error on your credit report, you can dispute it to have it corrected.
• 📢 Consumerfinance.gov offers tools and resources to assist with credit report disputes.
• 📞 Contact the credit reporting agency or the company that provided the information, which could be a bank, landlord, credit card company, or debt collector.
• 🔑 The 'big three' credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
• 💼 The company that provides information to the credit bureaus is known as a 'furnisher'.
• 📧 You can contact the credit reporting agency online, by mail, or by phone.
• 📝 Be prepared with your personal contact information, an explanation of the mistake, evidence supporting your dispute, and your report confirmation number.
• 🚫 Request the credit reporting agency to either remove or correct the error.
• 💾 Keep copies of all documents and communication related to the dispute.
• 🔗 Dispute the information with the furnisher, the company that provided the information to the credit bureau.
• 📚 Visit consumerfinance.gov/credit for sample letters, instructions, and more information on disputing credit report information.

Q & A

What should you do if you find an error on your credit report?

If you find an error on your credit report, you should dispute it using the tools and resources provided by consumerfinance.gov, which can guide you through the process of correcting the error.

Which are the three major nationwide credit reporting agencies mentioned in the script?

The three major nationwide credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Who might be considered a 'furnisher' in the context of credit reporting?

A 'furnisher' is the company that provided the information to the credit reporting agency, such as a bank, landlord, credit card company, or debt collector.

How can you contact the credit reporting agency to dispute an error?

You can contact the credit reporting agency online, by mail, or by phone to dispute an error on your credit report.

What information should you prepare before contacting the credit reporting agency?

You should prepare your personal contact information, an explanation of the mistake and why it's an error, any evidence supporting your dispute, and your report confirmation number if available.

What should you request the credit reporting agency to do regarding the error?

You should request the credit reporting agency to either remove or correct the error on your credit report.

Why is it important to save copies of all documents and communication related to the dispute?

Saving copies of all documents and communication is important for record-keeping and to provide evidence of your dispute efforts in case further action is needed.

Can you also dispute the information with the furnisher of the information?

Yes, you can dispute the information with the furnisher, which is the company that provided the information to the credit reporting agency.

What additional resources can consumerfinance.gov provide to help with disputing credit report information?

Consumerfinance.gov provides sample letters for communicating with specialty consumer reporting agencies and furnishers, as well as clear step-by-step instructions on how to dispute credit report information.

How can consumerfinance.gov assist with financial questions beyond credit report disputes?

Consumerfinance.gov is a go-to resource for clear answers to hundreds of financial questions, offering guidance and tools for various financial topics.

What is the website URL provided in the script for more information on disputing credit report errors?

The website URL provided for more information is consumerfinance.gov/credit.