How To Dispute Your FICO Score (Fair Isaac Corporation)?

You cannot dispute a FICO score directly because the score is a proprietary algorithm that reads the data on your credit reports, and only the reports - not the scoring model - can be corrected; therefore you must identify and challenge inaccurate items on the Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion file, which is why the next step is to pull all three credit reports and determine which FICO version they feed.

Pull each of the three major credit reports and note which FICO score version you're seeing. This baseline lets you spot report errors before you begin any dispute, and it tells you which version (FICO 8, 9, 10, etc.) lenders are using for your score.

1. Go to Annual Credit Report website and request a free report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Use the same name, address, and Social Security number on all three requests so the bureaus can match your file.
2. Download the PDFs or print the reports immediately. Verify the personal details (name, DOB, address) match your records; any mismatch is a red flag for later steps.
3. Log into each bureau's consumer portal (Equifax Online, Experian Boost, TransUnion CreditVision) or a trusted free‑score service that displays FICO scores. Locate the 'score version' label - usually shown as 'FICO 8,' 'FICO 9,' or 'FICO 10' next to the numeric score.
4. Record the version next to each bureau's score in a simple table (e.g., Equifax  -  FICO 8, Experian  -  FICO 9, TransUnion  -  FICO 8). This snapshot will be referenced when you later identify data errors and decide which disputes may affect which version of the score.

Look for factual mistakes on your credit reports, because the FICO score itself cannot be disputed; only inaccurate data that the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) use to calculate the score can be challenged. Scan each report line‑by‑line, compare it to your own records, and mark any entry that deviates from reality before you move on to gathering supporting documents.

• Misspelled name, wrong Social Security number, or incorrect address that could merge you with another consumer's file.
• Account that you never opened or that belongs to a spouse/partner (mixed‑file error).
• Closed account listed as open, or an open account shown as closed.
• Balance or credit limit that does not match your lender's statements.
• Late‑payment date that is off by a month or shows a payment you actually made on time.
• Inquiry you never authorized (often appears after a hard pull you didn't request).
• Negative item older than seven years (ten years for bankruptcies) that should have fallen off.
• Duplicate entry for the same loan or credit card, inflating your debt load.

• Pull the credit‑report page that displays the error, note the account number and date of entry.
• Gather the most recent account statements that show the correct balance or status.
• Provide payment‑proof documents such as bank statements, cancelled checks, or electronic‑payment confirmations.
• Include every piece of written correspondence with the creditor - emails, letters, or chat logs - that verifies the accurate information.
• Attach identity‑theft evidence when relevant, like a police report, FTC Identity Theft Report, or a copy of a government‑issued ID.

File disputes directly with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; you cannot dispute the FICO score itself, only the data that feeds it.

1. Log into each bureau's dispute portal (Equifax Dispute, Experian Dispute Center, TransUnion Online Dispute) or download the certified‑mail template if you prefer paper.
2. Enter the exact line you identified as inaccurate, copy the error verbatim from your report, and select the reason (e.g., 'account not mine,' 'incorrect balance,' 'late‑payment mis‑date').
3. Attach the supporting document you gathered earlier - billing statement, court order, or identity‑theft report. PDFs under 5 MB upload cleanly; for mail, include a photocopy and a brief cover letter.
4. Submit the dispute and note the confirmation number. Online portals display a 'case opened' screen; mailed disputes require a return receipt.
5. Wait the statutory 30‑day investigation window. The bureau will email (or mail) its findings and an updated report if the item is removed or corrected.
6. If the bureau rules against you, file a 're‑investigation' by referencing the original case number and supplying any new evidence, then repeat steps 2‑5.

Proceed to the next bureau and repeat the entire sequence; each credit bureau works independently, so a resolution at one does not affect the others. Once you've completed all three, move on to contacting the original lender (see the next section) to ensure they update their records as well.

Call or write the lender that filed the inaccurate entry on your credit reports.
Find the bank's or creditor's contact info in the 'account details' section of the report, then state the exact error, reference the date and amount, and attach any proof (payment receipts, statements, settlement letters).
Ask the lender to investigate the claim, correct the information, and send an updated record to the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - within the 30‑day window required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

If the lender agrees, request a written confirmation and a copy of the revised report once the correction is filed.
Should they deny the request or fail to respond, you'll move on to filing a direct dispute with each bureau, which the next section covers in detail.

You track dispute timelines and predict score shifts by noting each bureau's response window, logging status updates, and watching your credit‑report scores after corrections.

• Response windows - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion must finish an initial investigation within 30 days of receipt; they can extend to 45 days if they request additional information. Mark the 'date received' on each filed dispute and set a calendar reminder for the expected completion date.
• Status checks - Use the online portal or phone line of the bureau that received the dispute to see if it's 'in review,' 'resolved,' or 're‑opened.' Log the status change and the exact date; this creates a paper trail if you need to escalate later.
• Score impact timing - Once a negative item is deleted or corrected, the FICO score may change on the next reporting cycle, typically within 1 - 2 weeks. Minor updates (e.g., a corrected address) often move the score by 5‑10 points; more substantial removals (late payments, collections, charge‑offs) can lift it 20‑30 points, though the exact jump depends on the weight of the item in the FICO model.
• Monitoring tools - Sign up for a free credit‑monitoring service or use the monthly credit‑report website to capture the updated score immediately after the bureau posts the change. Compare the new figure to the pre‑dispute score to confirm the expected range.
• Document the outcome - Save the bureau's 'Results of Investigation' letter, note any remaining items, and record the new score. If the score does not move as anticipated, verify that the corrected information appears exactly as you reported; otherwise, you may need to revisit the dispute or move to the escalation step.

Keeping a simple spreadsheet with dates, bureau, status, and score before/after gives you a clear timeline, lets you spot delays, and prepares you for the next section on escalating unresolved disputes.

If a credit bureau or the reporting lender fails to correct an error after your dispute, submit a formal complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and your state's consumer‑protection agency.

Use the online portal at file a complaint with the CFPB, attach copies of your original dispute, the bureau's response (or lack thereof), and any supporting documents; then locate your state regulator via state consumer protection office and follow their complaint procedure, typically requiring the same evidence set.

Identity theft means someone stole your personal data to open fraudulent accounts, while mixed‑file errors happen when another consumer's activity appears on your credit reports; both distort the data that the FICO score uses, so you must clean the reports, not the score itself. Act immediately with a fraud alert, a security freeze, and focused disputes to stop further damage.

Place a fraud alert on all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) by calling 1‑877‑322‑8228 or visiting their websites. Obtain an FTC Identity Theft Report (FTC identity theft resources) and a police report if available. When you file each dispute - refer back to the 'gather key documents for every dispute' step - attach the identity‑theft report, a copy of your driver's license, and a recent utility bill. For mixed‑file items, cite 'information belongs to another consumer' under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and request removal.

The bureaus must investigate within 30 days and delete the incorrect entry; they will also send you an updated report. Finally, contact the lender that reported the error (see the 'contact the lender that reported the error' section) and provide the same documentation so they correct their records. Once the reports are clean, your FICO score will begin to recover on its own.

If a material error - one that shifts your credit‑report score by 20 points or more - remains after you've disputed with each credit bureau, escalated to the CFPB, and contacted your state regulator, you can file a small‑claims suit against the reporting furnisher or bureau. Gather every dispute letter, the bureau's response, and any regulator correspondence; then serve the defendant and file a complaint in the appropriate small‑claims court, which typically handles claims up to $10,000. For a quick primer, see what is small claims court.

If the error is minor, the filing fee and time outweigh any possible recovery, or the error has already been corrected, a lawsuit adds little value. In those cases, keep the dispute documentation, continue monitoring your reports, and rely on the credit bureaus' correction obligations - court action cannot alter the FICO scoring model itself.

Avoid credit‑repair scams and pointless paid services by relying only on the free dispute channels provided by the credit bureaus.

Red flags include: charging upfront fees, promising a guaranteed rise in your FICO score, requiring a power‑of‑attorney to pull your credit reports, and refusing to let you file disputes yourself.

Instead, log on to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion's official websites, upload the same documents you gathered in 'gather key documents for every dispute,' and track each case as outlined in the 'track dispute timelines and expected score changes' section.

Review all three credit reports at least once a month; a quick online login shows new accounts, updated balances, and any unfamiliar inquiries. Get the reports for free from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Update your address, employer, and phone number with every lender as soon as it changes; automatic notifications from the credit bureaus flag mismatches before they become errors.

Enroll in free fraud alerts or a credit freeze, and shred any paper statements that contain sensitive numbers; these steps stop unauthorized entries that later force disputes, a topic we'll explore further in the 'track dispute timelines' section.