How Do I Dispute TransUnion Credit Report?

Pull your latest TransUnion credit report and scan each line for inaccuracies.

1. Download the report - use the TransUnion free credit report portal or request it by phone; you need the most recent version.
2. Confirm personal data - verify name, Social Security number, birth date, and current address; any mismatch could signal identity theft.
3. Review every tradeline - check creditor name, account number, balance, payment status, and dates; look for 'closed' accounts listed as 'open' or balances that don't match your records.
4. Cross‑check with statements - pull the last 12 months of statements from each lender and compare amounts, late‑payment flags, and account statuses.
5. Spot duplicates and outdated items - duplicate collections, old bankruptcies, or debts over seven years should be removed under the FCRA.
6. Scan public‑record entries - ensure tax liens, judgments, and foreclosures belong to you; incorrect filings affect your score.
7. Log each discrepancy - create a simple table (source, error, correct info) so you have a ready list for the 'collect evidence TransUnion actually accepts' step that follows.

TransUnion accepts only verifiable, original documents that directly prove a reporting error. Gather these items before you start the dispute to keep the 30‑day investigation on track.

• Signed account statements or payment receipts from the creditor, dated and showing the correct balance or status.
• Closed‑account confirmation letters from the furnisher, including account number and closure date.
• Cancelled checks, bank statements, or electronic transfer records that match the payment date and amount.
• Court judgments, bankruptcy discharge papers, or tax‑sale releases that affect the balance or ownership.
• Police report or FTC Identity Theft Report when fraud caused the error, plus a fraud‑alert notice.

Contact the original creditor (the furnisher) first, because they can verify the entry, correct errors at the source, and often resolve the dispute faster than filing with TransUnion.

• Locate the furnisher's dispute phone number or online portal on your statement or the creditor's website.
• Send a written 'validation request' that cites the specific account, the inaccurate item, and asks for proof of accuracy; keep a copy for your records.
• Include the same documents you gathered in the 'collect evidence' step so the furnisher can match the data quickly.
• Request that the creditor update the information with all credit bureaus, not just TransUnion.
• Set a 15‑day reminder to follow up; if the furnisher does not respond or refuses to correct the mistake, move on to a formal dispute with TransUnion.

Resolving the issue with the furnisher first cuts down on back‑and‑forth with TransUnion and gives you stronger evidence for the concise dispute letter you'll draft in the next section.

Craft a dispute letter that forces TransUnion to act by stating the error, the correct information, and the supporting proof in three tight sentences.
Begin with 'I dispute the item listed on my credit report dated [MM/DD/YYYY]', follow with the exact inaccuracy, and finish with 'Enclosed are the documents that verify my claim; please remove the item within the 30‑day investigation period.'

Structure the letter with a brief heading, the one‑line dispute, a bullet‑style list of the documents you attached (e.g., payment receipt, account statement), and a courteous closing that requests a written confirmation of the result.
Keep the tone professional, avoid any extraneous narrative, and sign the letter exactly as it appears on your TransUnion account.
This format eliminates ambiguity and sets up the next section on avoid 7 common dispute mistakes for flawless execution.

These are the seven mistakes that most people make and that sabotage a TransUnion dispute. Avoiding them boosts your chance of a clean 30‑day investigation.

• Fail to gather every relevant statement, payment record, or court order before filing; TransUnion won't investigate without evidence.
• Write a long, emotional letter; the agency only processes concise, fact‑based disputes.
• Send the dispute only to TransUnion and ignore the furnisher; both must receive the claim for a full review.
• Wait past the 30‑day window to check the results; the investigation can be closed if you don't follow up promptly.
• Rely on phone calls for anything other than identity verification; the FCRA requires written proof.
• Forget to keep copies of the dispute, attachments, and the mailed receipt; without a paper trail you can't prove what you sent.
• Assume the first outcome resolves every error; continue monitoring the report and dispute lingering items.

File your dispute instantly through TransUnion's secure online portal, using the login you created when you accessed your credit report. The system guides you step‑by‑step, lets you attach your evidence, and starts the mandatory 30‑day investigation without mailing anything.

• Go to TransUnion online dispute page and sign in or register for a free account.
• Select the credit report that contains the error you identified in the 'find every error' section.
• Click the specific item, then choose 'Dispute' and upload the supporting documents you gathered in the 'collect evidence' step (PDF, JPG, or PNG).
• Write a brief comment that references the attached evidence and explains why the entry is inaccurate.
• Submit the dispute; you'll receive a case number and email confirmation.
• Track progress in the 'Dispute Center' dashboard; TransUnion must complete its investigation and send you a written result within 30 days.
• If the outcome is unsatisfactory, proceed to the next section on sending a certified‑mail dispute for stubborn or complex errors.

Send a certified‑mail dispute when the online process leaves an error unresolved or the item involves multiple furnisher responses. This paper trail forces TransUnion to acknowledge receipt and start the 30‑day investigation under the FCRA.

1. Gather every supporting document - copy the credit‑report excerpt, the creditor's statement, and any prior correspondence. Highlight the exact line you contest.
2. Write a brief, factual letter - state your name, address, and TransUnion account number; identify the error; cite the evidence you enclose; request deletion or correction; and demand a written outcome within 30 days.
3. Use certified mail with return receipt - address the envelope to TransUnion Consumer Solutions, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. Keep the receipt number; it proves the dispute was delivered on a specific date.
4. Include a self‑addressed stamped envelope - this speeds up TransUnion's reply and eliminates excuses about 'undeliverable' notices.
5. File a copy with the furnishing creditor - send the same certified packet to the original creditor. If they correct the data on their end, they must notify TransUnion, tightening your case for step 8.

After mailing, log the receipt number and move to the next section, 'track TransUnion's 30‑day investigation and follow‑up steps,' to monitor compliance.

TransUnion completes its 30‑day investigation by sending you a written results notice and an updated credit report. The notice lists which items were verified, corrected, or left unchanged, and it includes the exact date the investigation ended.

After you file the dispute online (section 6), log into your myTransUnion account and open the 'Dispute History' tab; there you'll see the start date, the case number, and a real‑time status bar. When the status switches to 'Investigation Complete,' download the results and compare the changes to your original report.

If you haven't received a notice by day 30, call the dispute help line or mail a certified follow‑up that cites the case number and demands a reinvestigation. Keep every email, letter, and receipt; they become the evidence you'll need if you move on to the escalation steps in the next section.

If TransUnion stalls, file a complaint with the CFPB and your state's consumer‑finance regulator.

Escalation means you move beyond the 30‑day investigation and ask a government agency to intervene. The CFPB accepts a copy of your dispute reference number, the dates you mailed or posted evidence, and any response (or lack thereof) from TransUnion. State regulators follow the same FCRA rules and can conduct their own inquiry or compel TransUnion to correct the record. Submit the complaint within 45 days of the missed deadline to keep the case alive.

For example, after logging the dispute online, you notice TransUnion has not posted results after 35 days. Go to the CFPB complaint portal, select 'Credit reporting' as the issue, and attach a screenshot of the 'Dispute ID' plus the carrier‑pigeon‑hole of your mailed certified‑mail proof. Enter the dates you sent the original dispute and the date TransUnion's deadline passed. Then call your state's consumer‑finance office - most states list a toll‑free line on their website - and provide the same file number and documentation. The agency will acknowledge receipt, forward the file to TransUnion, and you'll receive a tracking number for the regulator's investigation.

In another case, TransUnion replies with a 'partial update' that still contains the error. Include the response in your CFPB filing, note which items remain unresolved, and the regulator will require a full correction under the FCRA.

Phone disputes should be used only to verify your identity, such as confirming your Social Security number or answering security questions when TransUnion initiates a fraud check; for any substantive error - late payment, balance mistake, or inaccurate account - you must submit a written dispute via the TransUnion dispute portal or certified mail, because only a written record satisfies the FCRA 30‑day investigation and provides proof for later escalation.

A typical scenario: TransUnion calls you about possible fraud, you confirm your personal data, they place a fraud alert and request documentation, then you follow the written‑dispute steps outlined in section 6 and track the investigation in section 8; attempting to resolve a regular credit‑report error over the phone creates no paper trail and cannot be referenced if the bureau stalls, so reserve phone calls solely for identity confirmation.

Place a fraud alert with TransUnion immediately; the alert lasts 90 days, forces lenders to verify your identity before extending credit, and triggers a free annual credit report. Call TransUnion's fraud‑alert line or use the online portal, then follow up with a written request that includes your Social Security number and a copy of a government ID.

File a police report for the identity theft, then attach the report number and a copy of the report to every TransUnion dispute. The police document proves the theft, so the 30‑day investigation must treat the entry as fraudulent and remove it. You can upload the report through TransUnion's dispute center or mail a certified copy to the address listed in the 'Contact the Original Creditor' section.

After the alert and police report are in place, you may receive a phone call from a furnisher asking to confirm your identity; use that call only to verify the theft, never to settle the dispute. For further guidance on protecting your identity, see the FTC's how‑to‑protect‑your‑identity guide.