How to Repair a Mark Against Your Credit

If you have failed to fulfill the terms of your loan or credit agreement and the creditor reports that to the credit bureaus, you cannot do anything to remove a legitimate ding on your credit report, other than wait the seven years until the information is removed. However, creditors and credit bureaus do make mistakes in credit reporting, so if you find an error, you should take steps to have it removed. Even a seemingly small error, such as an underreported credit limit or a late payment or two, can lower your credit score.

Instructions

1

Gather any proof that you have to support your claim that the mark against your credit is an error, and make copies. Never send the originals when contesting the error, because if they become lost, your case is destroyed.

2

Write a letter to the credit bureau explaining what the error is, why you believe it to be incorrect, and how it should be fixed on your credit report. Enclose copies of any documents that support your argument.

3

Write another letter to the creditor that reported the mark against your credit explaining what the error is, why you believe it to be incorrect, and how it should be fixed on your credit report. You should enclose copies of any documents that support your argument. Even if the creditor disagrees with your claim, it must include a note saying you contest the negative information, if it reports it in the future.

4

Record the dates that you mail your letters and wait a month or two to hear back from the credit bureau. Credit bureaus are legally required to investigate your claim within 30 days (unless they deem it frivolous) and to inform you of their findings. If the credit bureau finds your claim to be true, you will receive a new credit report with the corrected information.

5

Request that if a change has been made, the credit bureau send an updated copy to any financial institutions that have pulled your credit report in the last six months, and to any employers that requested your credit report within the past two years. Credit bureaus are required by law to send the reports for free.