How to Clear Old Items Off a Credit Report

To clear old items off a credit report, you have to file a dispute with the credit bureau reporting the account. Account information can vary between Equifax, TransUnion and Experian, the three major credit reporting agencies. When requesting the removal of old accounts, order a copy of your credit report from all three agencies. This ensures all your credit reports are reflecting accurate and up-to-date information.

Instructions

1

Order a copy of your credit report from all three bureaus. You can do this by contacting the credit reporting agencies separately or by visiting Annual Credit Report.

2

Look at all account dates. The statute of limitations for account reporting is seven years. You can legally clear any accounts older than that off your credit report.

3

Contact all three credit bureaus to file a dispute for the outdated items. An account still showing up on your credit report after seven years is an error, which is why you have to file a dispute to clear off old items. You can file a dispute online, by phone or mail with Equifax and TransUnion. Experian requires you to file a dispute online.

4

Contact the credit bureaus 30 to 45 days after the date they receive your dispute. The 30- to 45-day time frame is what credit reporting agencies give creditors to verify the account in question and respond to your dispute. If the creditor finds the account is outdated, the creditor will submit this information to the credit bureaus to remove the account from your credit report.