How to File a TransUnion Dispute?

Pull your TransUnion report and mark every error before you start the dispute.

1. Request the free report at AnnualCreditReport.com or directly from TransUnion; select the PDF version for easy annotation.
2. Open the PDF in a viewer that lets you highlight, or print it and use a red pen.
3. Review personal info, every account, and public‑record sections line by line. Spot mismatches such as a $5,000 balance on a card you closed in March 2022.
4. Next to each discrepancy, write the correct detail and why it's wrong - include account number, creditor name, and date (e.g., 'balance should be $0, account closed 03/2022').
5. Capture a screenshot or photo of each marked error; save all images in a folder called 'TransUnion dispute'.
6. Build a simple spreadsheet listing: error description, wrong entry, correct entry, and source of proof (bank statement, court document). This spreadsheet will feed directly into the evidence‑gathering step later.
7. Keep the original report and all annotated copies in a secure location; you'll need them when you decide if you should dispute this TransUnion error in the next section.

• If the entry is factually wrong, belongs to another person, or is outdated, file a TransUnion dispute.
• When the error drags down your TransUnion report score or blocks credit approval, dispute it (the FCRA requires TransUnion to investigate within 30‑45 days under the Fair Credit Reporting Act).
• If you can supply billing statements, court orders, or other proof that contradicts the error, pursue a TransUnion dispute.
• After contacting the creditor directly and receiving no correction, move forward with a TransUnion dispute.
• If the mistake is a minor typo that won't affect any scoring models and you lack supporting documentation, you may choose to monitor rather than dispute.

File your TransUnion dispute online for instant submission, real‑time status updates, and the ability to upload PDFs or screenshots directly to the TransUnion online dispute portal. The system logs each entry, sends an electronic receipt, and typically initiates the 30‑45‑day FCRA investigation within minutes of your upload.

Choose phone or mail when you prefer a spoken explanation or need a paper trail you can certify. Call TransUnion's consumer line to record the conversation, then follow up with a mailed letter to TransUnion Consumer Relations, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, attaching copies of supporting documents; certified mail provides proof of delivery, though processing may start later than the web portal.

Gather the exact evidence TransUnion requires by pairing each error on your TransUnion report with the document that directly disproves it. This preparation ensures your TransUnion dispute moves quickly and avoids back‑and‑forth requests.

• Copy of the most recent account statement or billing record that shows the correct balance or payment dates
• Letter from the creditor or lender confirming the account's true status, including account number and relevant dates (see TransUnion dispute instructions)
• Government‑issued photo ID and Social Security card when the error involves mistaken identity or a mixed file
• Police report or FTC Identity Theft Report for fraud‑related inaccuracies
• Court judgment, settlement, or satisfaction notice when a legal action has been resolved
• Timestamped screenshot from a credit‑monitoring service if the error stems from a data‑feed glitch

TransUnion dispute letters work when they are razor‑thin, fact‑based, and laser‑focused on one error. State the error exactly as it appears on your TransUnion report, attach the relevant document, and close with a clear demand: 'Please correct this in my file within the 30‑45 day FCRA window.'

After you've marked every mistake and gathered proof (see sections 1‑4), open with your name, address, and the date, then list TransUnion's mailing address. Identify the disputed item by account number, describe why it's wrong, cite the attached evidence, and request that the entry be deleted or corrected. Keep the letter to one page, use plain language, and sign it at the bottom. In the next step you'll learn three proven sentence structures that speed the review process.

• Use these three proven sentences to make your TransUnion dispute clear and trigger a faster review.
• 'I am disputing item # [account] on my TransUnion report because the listed balance of $[amount] contradicts the attached creditor statement.'
• 'Please investigate and delete the inaccurate late‑payment entry dated [date] on my TransUnion report, as I have supplied a notarized payment history proving timely payments.'
• 'I request immediate correction of the misspelled name and wrong Social Security number on my TransUnion report; attached are a copy of my driver's license and a utility bill for verification.'

TransUnion must finish investigating your dispute within 30 days of receiving it, unless the dispute follows an adverse‑action notice, in which case the clock extends to 45 days; for example, a dispute mailed on March 1 should be resolved by March 31 (or April 15 after an adverse notice). Adding extra documents after the initial filing does not restart the deadline - the original 30‑day (or 45‑day) period continues unchanged.

You'll receive a written results letter by the end of that window, and any corrected items must appear on your TransUnion report within the same timeframe. See the Fair Credit Reporting Act investigation deadline for the legal basis.

Confirm the corrected items on your TransUnion report and archive every proof of the update.

1. Log into your TransUnion account or request a fresh copy of the report within five days of the investigation‑complete notice. Verify that each disputed error is now marked 'corrected,' 'removed,' or 'updated.'
2. Capture the corrected sections with timestamped screenshots or print the PDF. Save the files in a folder named with the dispute date.
3. Download the written 'Results of Investigation' letter; it lists which items changed, which stayed unchanged, and the update date. Keep a PDF copy.
4. If any item remains unchanged, note the reason provided and store that note beside the screenshot - this will be useful for the next step (identity‑theft dispute or contacting the furnisher).
5. Back up all evidence to a secure cloud service and a local drive, and email yourself a copy for an additional audit trail.

(For the legal timeline, see the FCRA 30‑45‑day investigation window.)

An identity‑theft dispute lets you flag an error on your TransUnion report that stems from fraud, using an official FTC Identity Theft Report or a police‑filed incident report as proof.

When a fraudster opens an account, request a copy of the FTC report from FTC's Identity Theft Central and, if you filed one, obtain the police report number. Attach both documents to your TransUnion dispute letter, state the error's nature, and cite the report numbers as verification. For example, write: 'A fraudulent credit card appears on my TransUnion report (account # 1234). The FTC Identity Theft Report (ID # 5678) and Police Report (Case # 9012) confirm this is not my debt.'

Mail the package with certified mail, keep the receipt, and expect a 30‑45‑day investigation under the FCRA.

Mixed-file or merged identity errors happen when TransUnion combines two unrelated credit histories into one TransUnion report. Fix them by separating the records through a targeted TransUnion dispute and supporting documentation.

• Locate every account that belongs to the other person; note name, SSN, and address differences.
• Collect proof that each identity is distinct: copies of driver's licenses, passports, Social Security cards, or a recent utility bill for each individual.
• Submit a TransUnion dispute that:
  • cites the specific merged accounts,
  • includes a brief statement such as 'This file contains mixed‑file information; please create separate credit files for each consumer,'
  • attaches the identity documents as evidence, and
  • requests removal of the other person's data from your file.
• Keep the dispute concise; TransUnion must investigate within 30‑45 days under the FCRA.
• After the investigation, review the updated TransUnion report to confirm the erroneous accounts have been removed and the file now reflects only your information.

If a creditor continues to report the wrong data, proceed to the next section and contact the furnisher directly; you may also reference the FTC guide on identity theft for additional support.

Contact the creditor directly when a furnisher reported your error by reaching out to their disputes department with your TransUnion report and supporting documents. Use the phone number on your statement, the secure messaging portal, or a certified‑mail letter that cites the specific entry, includes a copy of the TransUnion dispute reference number, and demands a corrected report within the 30‑45‑day FCRA investigation window.

After you speak or write, request written confirmation that the creditor will notify TransUnion of the change, and keep a dated copy of every email, note from the call, and mailing receipt. The creditor's acknowledgment often prompts a faster update, allowing you to move on to the next step - verifying the correction on your TransUnion report. For more on creditor‑initiated updates, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guide.