How to Dispute Errors on Experian

Log in to Experian's free credit portal and follow these five steps to view your current Experian report.

1. Open Experian free credit report page in a browser.
2. Click 'Get your free report' and enter your Social Security number, birth date, and current address.
3. Answer the identity‑verification questions (usually recent loan or address details).
4. Choose the 'Free Report' option; the system will generate a PDF or online view within minutes.
5. Scan the report for personal information, account status, and any entries marked 'disputed' or 'inquiry.'

• Confirm whether the entry truly reflects your credit activity; mismatched dates, amounts, or account status signal an error.
• Compare the entry with your own records (statements, loan agreements, or credit‑card letters).
• Look for common error types: misspelled name, wrong address, duplicate accounts, and outdated closed accounts.
• Verify that the creditor listed actually reported the debt; unauthorized accounts may indicate identity theft.
• Note any unfamiliar accounts or inquiries; flag them for further investigation before moving to the document‑collection step.

Gather the exact documents Experian requires to verify your dispute, because missing paperwork can delay the 30‑day investigation. Match each error you flagged in the previous step with the supporting paperwork before you draft the dispute statement.

• Government‑issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) - proves you're the consumer.
• Proof of current address (utility bill, bank statement dated within the last 90 days) - links you to the Experian report.
• Copy of the erroneous entry from your Experian report - shows the specific item you dispute.
• Original account statement or billing cycle that contains the inaccurate information - validates the correct balance or payment status.
• Payment receipt, cancelled check, or electronic transfer confirmation if you're contesting a late‑payment or charge‑off.
• Court judgment, bankruptcy discharge, or lien documentation if the error involves a legal filing.
• Affidavit or police report for identity‑theft or mixed‑file cases.
• Any recent correspondence from the creditor that confirms the correct data.

A winning dispute statement is a brief, factual paragraph that identifies the error, references the exact line on your Experian report, attaches the supporting document, and requests correction within Experian's 30‑day investigation window. Keep it under 150 words, use plain language, and avoid emotional pleas.

For example: 'I am writing to dispute the late‑payment entry dated 03/15/2022 on my Experian report (account # 123456). The attached bank statement shows the payment cleared on 03/13/2022. Please remove this inaccurate entry and update my credit file accordingly.' This format mirrors the guidance from the Experian dispute portal and sets you up to avoid common filing mistakes covered next.

These seven common dispute mistakes waste your time and derail your Experian report correction.

• Submit vague statements instead of a concise, fact‑based dispute.
• Omit supporting documents or send incomplete copies.
• Ignore Experian's 30‑day investigation deadline and fail to follow up.
• Re‑file the same error multiple times without new evidence.
• Use the online portal for items that require a mailed, signed letter.
• Forget to check for mixed‑file or identity‑theft entries before disputing.
• Skip contacting the creditor directly after a rejected dispute.

File your online Experian dispute in under 10 minutes by following these four quick actions.

1. Open Experian's Dispute Center and sign in with your account credentials.
2. Locate the error on your Experian report, click 'Dispute,' and confirm the item number.
3. Attach the documents you collected in the previous section; label each file with the corresponding item number.
4. Type a brief statement (no more than 125 characters) that explains why the entry is wrong, then press 'Submit.' Experian has up to 30 days to investigate.

Mailing your dispute creates a provable paper trail that online submissions cannot match. Send a one‑page cover letter that repeats the short dispute statement from the previous step, attach clear copies of every supporting document, and label each attachment with the corresponding item number on your Experian report. Use Certified Mail with Return Receipt, address the envelope to Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013, and keep a photocopy of the entire packet for your records.

Include the Experian reference number (if you have one) and write 'ATTN: Consumer Dispute Department' on the envelope to reduce handling errors.

After mailing, log the tracking number and receipt date; Experian must begin its investigation within 30 days, which you'll monitor in the 'track your dispute progress' section. If the return receipt confirms delivery, you have concrete proof that the dispute was received, strengthening any future escalation to the CFPB or state attorney general.

Track your dispute progress online and enforce the 30‑day investigation deadline by checking the portal regularly and sending timed follow‑up letters.

• Log into the Experian dispute portal (or the mobile app) each day; the status bar will show 'under review,' 'information received,' or 'complete.'
• Note the date Experian acknowledges receipt of your dispute; the law (FCRA § 611(a)) requires a decision within 30 days of that date.
• If the status remains 'under review' after 20 days, email or call 1‑888‑397‑3742 and cite the pending deadline.
• Send a certified‑mail 'deadline notice' to Experian's dispute department, referencing the original dispute date and demanding a decision by day 30; keep the receipt as proof.
• Record every interaction (date, representative name, summary) in a simple spreadsheet; this creates a paper trail for later escalation.
• When the 30‑day window closes without a resolution, prepare a 'non‑compliance' letter stating that Experian has violated the FCRA and that you will file a complaint with the CFPB.

After you've forced a response, move on to contacting the creditor who reported the error (section 9) if the outcome is still unsatisfactory.

Call or write the creditor that reported the error, using the phone number or mailing address on your latest statement or on their website. Reference the specific entry on your Experian report, name the error, and cite the dispute you filed with Experian.

Include a copy of your short dispute statement, any supporting documents you gathered earlier, and Experian's case reference number. Ask the creditor to correct the information with Experian in writing and request a confirmation of the update. Find creditor contact information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you're unsure where to send the request.

Log the date, method, and person you spoke with; keep the email or mailed copy. The creditor must respond within 30 days, matching Experian's investigation timeline. If the response is unsatisfactory, move on to the next step on handling identity‑theft or mixed‑file errors.

Identity theft or mixed‑file errors occur when unauthorized accounts or another consumer's information appear on your Experian report; treat them as fraud disputes, not ordinary inaccuracies. Immediately add a fraud alert (or credit freeze) through Experian, then file an Identity Theft Report with the FTC (FTC Identity Theft Report) and a police report if you have one.

Send a written dispute that includes the FTC report number, copies of any proof of identity (driver's license, Social Security card), and a statement that the listed items are not yours. Request that Experian delete the fraudulent entries and that the reporting creditor correct their file. If the creditor cannot verify the account, Experian must remove it within 30 days. Should the dispute be rejected, move on to the escalation steps in the next section.

Typical identity‑theft examples: a credit card opened in your name that you never applied for, a medical bill from a different 'John Doe' in another state, or a loan listed under your Social Security number that belongs to a sibling. Mixed‑file cases include a utility charge from a former address that was reported under your current account, or a collection agency mistakenly attaching a former spouse's debt to your profile. In each case, attach the relevant proof (lease agreement, divorce decree, proof of residence) to show the item does not belong to you and request its removal.

If Experian rejects your dispute, immediately involve a regulator or the courts.

You can act through three channels:

• Gather the denial letter, your original dispute ID, and every supporting document.
• Submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, referencing the Experian case number and attaching the evidence.
• Contact your state attorney general's consumer protection office - many states offer online portals via the National Association of Attorneys General - and provide the same packet.
• If the disputed amount is $10,000 or less, file a small‑claims action in the appropriate county court, serving Experian with copies of the denial and all documentation.

Keep copies of every filing and track response deadlines; the next section shows how to monitor progress and enforce the 30‑day investigation timeline.