How to Do a TransUnion Credit Sweep?

A TransUnion credit sweep is the organized filing of disputes that challenges inaccurate tradelines on your TransUnion report; under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, each furnisher must verify the entry within 30 days, and if it cannot, the tradeline is corrected or removed, which may lower your reported debt, erase wrongful delinquencies, and improve your credit score.

Typical results include a duplicate hard inquiry being erased, a mistakenly reported 90‑day late payment changed to 'on‑time,' and a fraudulent credit‑card account deleted; each correction can boost a low score by 5‑15 points or add 10‑30 points when errors are severe. Knowing these outcomes leads directly into the next step: pull your TransUnion report and check freeze status.

Pull your TransUnion credit report online and verify whether a freeze is active before any disputes. The report lets you spot tradelines, and the freeze status tells you if you must lift it for the TransUnion credit sweep.

1. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, choose TransUnion, and complete the identity verification (Social Security number, date of birth, current address). Download the PDF or view the report on screen.
2. Scroll to the 'Security Freeze' or 'Freeze Status' section; note if it reads Active or Not Requested.
3. If the freeze is active, go to TransUnion's freeze portal or call 1‑800‑820‑0600. Have your PIN/PW ready and request a temporary lift - typically for 30 days or for specific dates - so disputes can be filed.
4. Save the report file and the freeze‑lift confirmation in a folder titled 'TransUnion Credit Sweep.' You'll need these documents in the next step, Gather documents you need to prove disputes, and when you Submit disputes online, by mail, and by phone.

Collect the paperwork that proves each disputed tradeline before you launch the TransUnion credit sweep; the evidence you attach now will be referenced when you later identify tradelines likely to be removed.

• Government‑issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Recent utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement confirming current address
• Your latest TransUnion report with disputed tradelines highlighted
• Account statements or billing cycles that show the error
• Settlement, payoff, or 'account closed' letters from the creditor
• Police report or FTC Identity Theft Report for fraudulent items
• Payment receipts, canceled checks, or electronic transfer confirmations
• All email or mailed correspondence with the creditor regarding the dispute
• Court judgments, bankruptcy filings, or other legal documents affecting the account
• Signed authorization if you're filing on someone else's behalf (e.g., power of attorney)

For the legal basis of each document, see the Fair Credit Reporting Act guidelines.

TransUnion will most often delete tradelines that violate FCRA reporting rules. Focus your disputes on items that are inaccurate, unverifiable, duplicated, or beyond the allowed reporting window.

• Incorrect personal details (misspelled name, wrong address, or wrong Social Security number).
• Duplicate listings of the same debt or account.
• Wrong balance, payment status, or dates that don't match your records.
• Negative accounts older than seven years from the date of first delinquency, including collections, charge‑offs, and repossessions (FCRA reporting limits).
• 'In dispute' notations that remain for more than 30 days without a response from the furnisher.
• Public records that exceed their legal reporting periods (bankruptcies over ten years, tax liens past the statutory window).

Here are five ready‑to‑copy dispute letters that fit the most common tradelines you'll target in a TransUnion credit sweep.

1. Inaccurate Personal Information

   [Your Name]
   
   [Your Address]
   
   [City, State ZIP]
   
   [Phone]
   
   [Email]

   TransUnion Consumer Dispute Department
   
   P.O. Box 2000
   
   Chester, PA 19016

   Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]

   Re: Dispute of personal data on my TransUnion credit report, TransUnion file # [report number]

   I reviewed my recent TransUnion credit sweep and found the following errors in my personal information:

   • Incorrect birth date: listed as [Wrong DOB]; correct DOB is [Correct DOB].
   • Misspelled name: listed as '[Incorrect]'; correct spelling is '[Correct]'.

   Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act I request verification and correction within the 30‑day window. I have enclosed a copy of my driver's license and a utility bill for proof.

   Please confirm in writing that these changes have been made.

   Sincerely,
   
   [Signature]

2. Closed Account Still Reported as Open

   [Header same as above]

   Re: Dispute of tradeline # [Account #] - 'Closed' status not reflected

   My TransUnion credit sweep shows the above account as 'Open, $0 balance,' but I closed it on [MM/DD/YYYY] and received a closure letter from the creditor (see attached).

   The FCRA requires removal of any inaccurate 'open' status. Please update the account to 'Closed' and send me a corrected copy of my report.

   Thank you,
   
   [Signature]

3. Late Payment Misreported

   [Header]

   Re: Dispute of late payment entry for [Creditor Name], Account #[Account #]

   The report lists a 30‑day late payment on [MM/DD/YYYY]. I have attached my bank statement showing the payment cleared on [MM/DD/YYYY], well before the due date.

   Request removal of the late‑payment notation under the FCRA. Confirm the correction in writing.

   Regards,
   
   [Signature]

4. Account Not Belonging to Me (Potential Fraud)

   [Header]

   Re: Dispute of fraudulent tradeline - [Creditor Name], Account #[Account #]

   I never opened or authorized this account. I have attached an identity‑theft affidavit and a police report (if filed).

   Pursuant to the FCRA, please delete this tradeline and flag my file for fraud investigation. Provide a corrected report promptly.

   Best,
   
   [Signature]

5. Duplicate Entry (Same Debt Listed Twice)

   [Header]

   Re: Dispute of duplicate tradeline - [Creditor Name], Account #[Account #]

   The same loan appears twice on my TransUnion credit sweep, with identical balances and dates. Enclosed are the original loan agreement and the most recent statement proving only one account exists.

   Please remove the duplicate entry and supply an updated report within 30 days.

   Thank you,
   
   [Signature]

Copy the script that matches the tradeline you identified in Section 4, attach the supporting documents gathered in Section 3, and proceed to the 'Submit disputes online, by mail, and by phone' step.

Submit disputes through TransUnion's online portal, by certified mail, or by calling 1‑800‑916‑8800.

Online, log in, upload your supporting PDFs, select each tradeline, and click 'Submit.' By mail, send a one‑page letter that lists the report ID, the inaccurate tradeline, the specific error, and attaches copies of proof; address it to TransUnion LLC, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. By phone, have your report handy, state the tradeline, the error, and request a written acknowledgment.

The online option is fastest; the system confirms receipt instantly and tracks the 30‑day FCRA response window. Use the draft scripts from the previous step to keep language consistent. For mail, use certified mail with return receipt, keep a copy of the envelope, and note the mailing date - TransUnion must respond within 30 days of receipt. When you call, ask for the representative's name and reference number, then follow up with a short email summarizing the conversation to create a paper trail.

Record each dispute in a spreadsheet: date submitted, method, tradeline, and expected deadline. This log will feed directly into the 'track responses, deadlines, and escalate' section that follows, ensuring you never miss the statutory response period.

Keep a master log that records each dispute, its 30‑day deadline, and the exact escalation step if the response is unsatisfactory.

A clear tracker prevents missed deadlines, lets you spot patterns - such as a furnisher repeatedly ignoring requests - and gives you evidence when you must involve the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or an attorney.

• Date filed & method - online portal, certified mail, or phone.
• Disputed tradeline - account name, number, and why it's inaccurate.
• Reference ID - case number from TransUnion's portal or mailing receipt.
• Response due - 30 days from filing per the FCRA; mark the calendar.
• Outcome - deleted, verified, or changed; note any partial fixes.
• Escalation trigger - no response, incomplete removal, or new error.
• Next action - send a 31‑day follow‑up, file a complaint with the CFPB, or consult an attorney.

With this spreadsheet you can instantly see which disputes need a 31‑day follow‑up and move confidently into the next phase of handling reinsertions and uncooperative furnishers.

When a TransUnion credit sweep causes a tradeline to reappear or a furnisher refuses to respond, file a fresh dispute that cites the original case number, attach any new documentation, and explicitly request a 're‑investigation' under FCRA § 611(a)(5). Mark the entry in your tracking sheet as 're‑inserted' so you can see at a glance which tradelines need another round of pressure.

If a furnisher remains uncooperative, send a certified‑mail demand letter that references FCRA § 602(a) and § 609(e), ask for proof of the account, and warn that you will file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consider legal action. Keep copies of every exchange; a well‑documented paper trail often forces the furnisher to remove the inaccurate tradeline or at least provide the required verification.

Expect roughly 10‑25% of disputed tradelines to disappear within the first 30‑day response window, and another 15‑20% after a second round of well‑crafted disputes, for a total removal rate of 30‑45% in most DIY sweeps.

During the first 30 days you'll see the bulk of outcomes because the FCRA 30‑day response requirement forces TransUnion to investigate each challenge. Typical patterns look like:

• Initial results (days 1‑30): 10‑25% of tradelines marked 'deleted' or 'updated'; the rest remain pending or unchanged.
• Follow‑up disputes (days 31‑60): an additional 15‑20% may be removed once furnishers provide corrected data or fail to verify.
• Hard‑inquiry removals: often require a separate dispute and can clear within 45‑60 days if the inquiry was unauthorized.

Track each deadline in the spreadsheet you built in section 7; when the 30‑day clock expires, decide whether to re‑file, escalate, or move on to the next decision point in section 10 about hiring a professional.

You can remove or change Experian 2FA directly from the account security menu without compromising your login.

• Log into Experian.com with your username and password.
• Go to Settings → Security and select 'Two‑Factor Authentication'.
• Click 'Disable' to remove 2FA, or 'Change method' to switch between SMS and an authenticator app.
• Enter the current 2FA code, confirm your password, and press 'Save'.

Having at least one backup option from the '5 backup options' section protects you while the old method is disabled, and you can re‑enable 2FA immediately after the change. For detailed guidance, see the Experian support page on two‑factor authentication.

Next, learn how to spot phishing attempts that target Experian 2FA to keep your account safe.

Separate the compromised record from your legitimate file and send a focused dispute for each fraudulent tradeline. Start by placing a fraud alert on your TransUnion credit sweep, then request an identity‑theft report (police report or FTC affidavit) that proves the mixed accounts are not yours.

Match every mixed tradeline on the TransUnion report with the supporting documents you gathered in section 3, then use the reusable script from section 5 to demand deletion. Attach the identity‑theft report, a copy of your government ID, and any proof that the other person's name or Social Security number appears on the account. Cite the FCRA's 30‑day investigation requirement; if TransUnion does not remove the line, file a second dispute referencing the first response and request a reinvestigation.

Track the deadline in the log you set up in section 7 and be ready to escalate to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if needed. For a step‑by‑step guide on filing the affidavit, see the Federal Trade Commission's identity‑theft resources.