How to Dispute Your Credit Report & Win

If you find mistakes in your credit report, it's up to you to initiate the process of getting them fixed. While the process can be lengthy and tedious, it is possible to successfully dispute inaccurate information in your credit report.

Instructions

Disputing Erroneous Information on a Credit Report

1

Obtain copies of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus. Each consumer is entitled to one free copy of her credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. It is a good idea to obtain all three reports at once to determine whether inaccurate information is duplicated on more than one report.

2

Gather receipts, canceled checks, and other evidence of payments. Make photocopies of all relevant records. You will need these copies to submit with your dispute form or letter. The more evidence you can provide, the better your chances are of winning a dispute.

3

Obtain an official dispute form from the credit reporting bureau. The form should include entries for the name of the creditor, the contact address, and the amount of the bill. State exactly which items you believe are inaccurate and present evidence to support your claim.

4

Contact each of the disputed creditors with a copy of the dispute form being sent to the credit reporting bureaus and a letter specifically targeted toward the creditor in question. The letter should contain the account number along with a description of the disputed item(s), including the amount(s) and date(s). State your specific objections and provide copies of your receipts and other proof of payment.

5

Follow up with the credit reporting bureaus and the individual creditors. If you do not receive a response within a specified period of days (generally 60 to 90 days), contact the credit reporting bureau and/or the individual creditor again. Keep following up until the situation has been satisfactorily resolved.

6

Check again after the dispute has been resolved. Especially if the dispute was decided in your favor, you should make sure the necessary changes are made in your credit report. In some instances, you may have corrected reports sent out on your behalf to potential employers and prospective landlords, among others, at no charge to you for a specified period of time.