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Building a Better Credit Report (Part 2)

How do I correct errors on my credit report?

Both the credit reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a credit reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report once you bring it to their attention. Letting them know involves two steps.

Step 1

Tell the credit reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate. Your letter should identify each item in your report you dispute, explain why you dispute the information, and ask that it be removed or corrected. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the items in question circled. Send your letter by certified mail, "return receipt requested,” so you can document what the credit reporting company received. Keep copies of your dispute letter and enclosures.

Credit reporting companies must investigate the items in question, usually within 30 days, unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They must also forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the information provider, which reviews the relevant information, investigates, and reports the results back to the credit reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.

What happens after the investigation?

When the investigation is complete, the credit reporting company must give you the results in writing and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. If an item is changed or deleted, the credit reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies that it is accurate and complete. The credit reporting company also must send you written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the information provider.

If you ask, the credit reporting company must send notices of any corrections to anyone who received your report in the past 6 months. You can have a corrected copy of your report sent to anyone who received a copy during the past 2 years for employment purposes.

What if the investigation doesn't resolve my dispute?

Ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. You also can ask the credit reporting company to provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of your report in the recent past. Expect to pay a fee for this service.

Step 2

Tell the information provider, in writing, that you dispute an item in your credit report. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. If the provider listed an address on your credit report, send your letter to that address. If no address is listed, contact the provider and ask for the correct address to send your letter. If the information provider does not give you an address, you can send your letter to any business address for that provider.

What if the provider continues to report the disputed item to a credit reporting company?

The provider must let the credit reporting company know about your dispute. And if you are correct—that is, if the information you dispute is found to be inaccurate or incomplete—the information provider must tell the credit reporting company to update or delete the item.

U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (2014). Building a better credit report. Retrieved January 10, 2019, from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/

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