How to File a Dispute with the Credit Bureau?

Pull your free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion right now.

1. Visit the official Annual Credit Report website. The portal cycles each bureau's report every 12 months, so three separate requests fetch all three documents.
2. Verify identity with Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. Answer the security questions; if a question fails, request a mailed code to avoid lockouts.
3. Download or print each PDF within the 7‑day window. Save the files in a dedicated folder; they will become the baseline for spotting errors in the next section.

• Spot these common errors before you start your dispute.
• Verify your name, Social Security number, and address are accurate.
• Confirm every account listed truly belongs to you; remove mistaken identities.
• Remove outdated entries, such as closed accounts that linger beyond the 7‑year limit.
• Eliminate duplicate lines that inflate balances or total accounts.
• Ensure medical, collection, and charge‑off statuses reflect the actual agreement (for example, 'paid in full' not 'still owed').
• Check hard inquiry dates; flag any inquiry you never authorized.

Collect the exact documents that prove each error before you file a dispute. Strong evidence forces the credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - to investigate within the 30‑day period and reduces the chance of a rebuttal.

Key proof items include:

• Recent bank or credit‑card statements showing the disputed balance or payment date.
• Closed‑account letters or payoff confirmations from the original creditor.
• Court judgments, bankruptcy filings, or settlement agreements when legal actions affect the entry.
• Insurance or medical bills that verify a paid medical debt.
• Police reports or FTC Identity Theft Reports for fraud‑related items.
• Any written correspondence that contradicts the reported information (e.g., a 'paid in full' notice).

Gather these documents as PDFs or high‑resolution scans, name each file clearly, and store them in a dedicated folder. Linking your records to the free credit report you pulled earlier (annual credit report portal) ensures you can cross‑reference every disputed line item.

Having ironclad proof ready lets you draft a concise dispute letter that meets the bureaus' evidentiary standards and triggers the 30‑day investigation period.

A killer dispute letter is a concise, fact‑filled document that forces the credit bureaus to investigate and correct the error.

1. Use the bureau's template - Download the official form from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion; it guarantees the required fields are present.
2. Identify the item clearly - State the account name, number, and reporting date exactly as they appear on your free credit report.
3. State the dispute purpose - Write a single sentence such as, 'I dispute the $1,200 collection from ABC Collections reported on 03/15/2023 because I have no record of this account.'
4. Attach proof you gathered - Include copies of statements, payment confirmations, or letters that prove the entry is inaccurate; reference each attachment (e.g., 'see Attachment A').
5. Ask for a specific outcome - Request removal or correction, e.g., 'Please delete this entry from my report and confirm the update within the 30‑day investigation period.'
6. Keep tone professional - Use polite language, avoid emotional words, and sign the letter with your full legal name, address, and phone number.
7. Send via certified mail - Mail the letter and attachments to each bureau's dispute address, retain the receipt, and note the tracking number.

After mailing, proceed to 'File online for speed' to submit the same information electronically if you prefer a faster response.

Filing your dispute online starts the 30‑day investigation instantly, lets you upload documents, and gives real‑time status updates, assuming you've already reviewed your free credit report, spotted errors, gathered ironclad proof, and drafted a concise dispute letter.

• Visit each bureau's online portal (Equifax online dispute portal, Experian dispute submission page, TransUnion credit dispute site) and create an account.
• Enter your personal details, then select the questionable entry from your free credit report.
• Upload the supporting documents you gathered and paste the dispute letter you drafted.
• Submit the form; the system emails a confirmation with a case number.
• Log into the dashboard daily; most bureaus post results before the end of the 30‑day investigation period.

Send your dispute letters by certified mail to each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Include a copy of your free credit report, any supporting documents, your full name, address, the last four digits of your SSN, and a clear statement of the dispute you're requesting. Use certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof of delivery, and keep a copy of everything you send.

The 30‑day investigation period starts the day the bureau receives your certified mail. Expect a written response within that window; if none arrives, call the bureau or send a follow‑up letter. Tracking this timeline sets the stage for the next step, track your 30‑day timeline. For a detailed mailing checklist, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guide.

The credit bureaus must finish their investigation within 30 days of receiving your dispute, so you should log each milestone from submission to resolution.

Day 1: Submit the dispute online or by certified mail and note the confirmation number.
Day 5‑10: Check the online portal or track the mailing receipt; the bureau should acknowledge receipt.
Day 15: Verify that the bureau has marked the item 'under investigation.'
Day 30: Expect a written outcome - either a correction on your free credit report or a denial notice.
Day 31+: If you haven't heard back, contact the bureau, reference the 30‑day rule, and request immediate action.

For example, Jane filed an online dispute on March 1 and saved the case ID. By March 8 she saw the status change to 'under review.' On March 31 she received a letter confirming the removal of the erroneous late payment. When Tom mailed his dispute on April 2, he kept the certified‑mail receipt; after seeing no update by May 3, he called the bureau, quoted the 30‑day deadline, and secured a status check that led to a correction on May 10.

Both cases illustrate the importance of daily checks and prompt follow‑up if the 30‑day window expires. See the FTC guide on credit report disputes for additional timing details.

If the credit bureau rejects your dispute, fire back an appeal within the 30‑day investigation period. Send a concise letter to the same bureau, label it 'Re‑investigation Request,' attach any newly discovered documents (payment receipts, corrected account statements, or a corrected ID), and reference the original dispute case number.

If the appeal also comes up short, escalate by contacting the furnisher directly, filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and monitoring the next 30‑day cycle for updates. The following sections show how to handle identity‑theft disputes and break down medical‑debt challenges.

If fraud shows up on your free credit report, dispute it by filing an identity‑theft‑specific challenge with each credit bureau.

• Call Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a fraud alert; the alert forces lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts.
• Request a new free credit report now that the alert is active; this will capture the fraudulent entries you need to dispute.
• Obtain an Identity Theft Report from the FTC (or a police report) - this document proves you're a victim of theft.
• Collect supporting proof: a copy of your driver's license, recent utility bills, and any correspondence from the creditor showing the account isn't yours.
• Draft a dispute letter that references the Identity Theft Report, lists each fraudulent item, and attaches the supporting documents. Send the package by certified mail to each bureau, keeping the receipt.
• Each bureau must begin a 30‑day investigation, delete the unauthorized entries, and send you a written result.
• Review the outcome; if any item remains, file a reinvestigation request with the same proof and a reminder of your identity‑theft status.

Now that theft‑related items are cleared, you can tackle other special cases such as medical debt disputes demystified in the next section.

Medical debt disputes follow the same 30‑day investigation period as any other credit dispute, but you can also invoke the credit bureaus' medical‑debt exclusion rule.

Pull your free credit report, find the medical entry, and check its age. If the balance is more than 180 days old after your insurer's final payment, you can request removal from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. For newer entries, attach the insurer's Explanation of Benefits, a paid‑in‑full receipt, or a denial letter to prove the charge is inaccurate; see the FTC medical debt exclusion rule for details.

File the dispute online or by certified mail, include the supporting documents, and the bureaus must complete their investigation within 30 days. They will notify you of the outcome, and if the entry remains, you can fire back an appeal as explained in the upcoming 'Denied? Fire back an appeal' section.