How To Fix Credit Report Errors

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Almost half of people have errors on their credit reports according to a checkup study by Consumer Reports. So, here's exactly how to dispute errors on your credit report step-by-step. First, check your credit score with all three major bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Because not all bureaus are going to receive all reports from your creditors. From here, you're going to look for information that is worth disputing. That's going to be things like accounts that you don't recognize, payments incorrectly labeled as late, and more. Next up, gather your documentation. Now, what you're going to need depends on the error, but it's typically things like your statements, loan documents, and proof of identity.

[00:00:37]The good news is all three bureaus have an online dispute process, so you simply have to visit the online portal or form for whichever one you need. Once you submit, the credit bureaus are required to investigate and then inform you about their findings, typically within 30 days. If they agree with you, they're going to correct the info and send you a new copy of the report, which you should, of course, double-check. And if they disagree and refuse to make the change, the next option is to report this error to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Just make sure that you're 100% sure about the error before bringing in the heavyweights.