How to Suppress Something on a Credit Report

Credit reports contain a wealth of information. Potentially harmful information, such as a slow payment history, a repossessed car or a charged-off loan, can make lenders and insurers avoid doing business with you because they see you as a high risk. To minimize these problems, you can suppress some negative information. You won't be able to suppress accurate, verifiable items, but you can usually get enough items removed to have a positive effect on your credit score.

Instructions

1

Find grounds to challenge the items on your credit report that you wish to suppress. You can legally suppress them if you find inaccuracies in them. The Credit Infocenter says there can be many errors beyond the obvious. Look beyond wrong payment dates and account numbers. You might find a wrong opening date, high balance, status, charge-off date or lender name. This applies to current accounts as well as charged-off items and repossessions. They can all be suppressed if they cannot be verified by the credit bureau.

2

Tell the credit bureaus in writing which items you want suppressed and why. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says to send a certified letter instead of using the bureaus' online forms. Be very clear and specific, as the bureaus are not required to do an investigation if they think you are making groundless challenges. If your disputes seem to have merit, they must investigate them and respond within 30 days. The items must be suppressed if the credit bureaus cannot prove the challenged information is accurate.

3

Notify the original lenders that you want them to stop reporting the items to the credit bureaus if the bureaus themselves will not suppress them. If the credit bureaus say they have validated negative items, you are entitled by law to demand proof from the original creditors. If the creditors cannot provide proof, they must stop reporting the items, which means the items will stop showing up on your credit reports.

4

Send a statement to the credit bureaus explaining why you think certain items should be suppressed. Ask that your statement be included anytime a creditor, insurance company or employer orders your report.