How to Fix an Incorrect TransUnion Report

Pull your TransUnion report now by using the free annual credit‑report portal or TransUnion's own site.

1. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, click 'Get My Reports,' and select 'TransUnion.'
2. Enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address to verify identity; the system may ask for a recent debit or credit‑card statement for extra security.
3. Choose 'instant online PDF' for immediate access or 'mail a paper copy' if you prefer a hard copy.
4. If you want a second report within the year, create a free account at TransUnion.com and request an additional copy; you'll need the same personal details as step 2.
5. Save the PDF or scan the paper version; you'll refer to it when you 'mark every incorrect item on your report' in the next section.

Mark every incorrect item on your TransUnion report by clearly identifying each error and noting why it's wrong. This creates a tidy cheat‑sheet for the dispute step that follows.

• Print the report or open the PDF on a screen where you can annotate.
• Use a red pen or digital highlighter to circle every inaccurate line - account name, balance, payment date, status, or personal detail.
• Write a brief reason beside each circled item (e.g., 'balance should be $0, account closed 03/2022').
• Record the data furnisher's name and the account number for every marked error.
• Photograph or scan the marked page and save the file before you move on to picking a dispute method.

Now that you've pulled and marked every error on your TransUnion report, pick the dispute channel that fits your style and timeline. Online filing gives the quickest 30‑day FCRA response and automatic tracking; certified‑mail letters create a paper record that's useful if you need to prove delivery; phone calls are fast but leave no written evidence, so follow up with a confirmation email; disputing directly with the data furnisher can bypass the 30‑day wait when the creditor corrects the source file.

• TransUnion website (mytransunion.com) - instant submission, status updates, no postage; best for tech‑savvy users.
• Certified‑mail dispute letter - includes copies of supporting docs, receipt proof; ideal when you want a documented trail.
• Phone dispute (1‑800‑916‑8800) - immediate confirmation of receipt, but record the call details and send a follow‑up letter.
• Direct data‑furnisher dispute - contact the creditor or collection agency with the same evidence; often resolves the error at the source before TransUnion updates.
• Third‑party consumer‑reporting service - some services file on your behalf for a fee; choose only if you need extra help navigating the process.

The five documents TransUnion requires to verify a dispute and correct errors are:

• A clear copy of a government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID).
• A recent utility or bank statement showing your current residential address.
• The original account statement or billing records from the creditor that prove the reported balance or status is wrong.
• A court order, judgment, or settlement document if the error stems from a legal ruling.
• An official police report or FTC Identity Theft Report when fraud or identity theft is involved. Federal Trade Commission identity theft resources

Call or write the data furnisher yourself; explain the error, cite the specific line on your TransUnion report, and request a correction per the FCRA timelines (the creditor must respond within 30 days). Include a copy of the report, any supporting documents, and a clear statement such as 'Please update the account balance to $0 and notify TransUnion of the change.' Send the letter via certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep a PDF of the envelope and receipt.

Prompt follow‑up secures a faster dispute resolution. If the creditor replies with a corrected file, confirm that TransUnion reflects the change; if they deny the request, note the denial reason and move to the next step - tracking TransUnion's response deadlines and reopening ignored disputes in the following section.

Track every TransUnion response deadline on a calendar and file a new dispute whenever a 30‑day reply is missing or inadequate.

1. Log the dispute date, method (online portal, certified mail) and the dispute ID you receive.
2. Mark the statutory 30‑day FCRA deadline on your calendar; add a 5‑day buffer for mail delays.
3. When TransUnion replies, compare the outcome to your original request. If the item remains unchanged or the response is incomplete, note the 'response received' date and move to step 4.
4. If no reply arrives by the deadline, send a follow‑up certified letter referencing the original dispute ID, attach a copy of the initial submission, and demand a written resolution.
5. To reopen an ignored dispute, submit a new dispute that cites the prior case number, explains why the earlier answer was insufficient, and includes any additional documentation.
6. Use the TransUnion 'Dispute Center' to check status daily; capture the 'pending' or 'closed' timestamp for your records.
7. Maintain a simple spreadsheet: dispute ID, creditor, item, date submitted, deadline, outcome, and next‑action notes.
8. If TransUnion repeatedly fails to act, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and request a reinvestigation under FCRA § 611(a)(6).

Proceed next to adding a fraud alert or freeze if you suspect identity theft.

Place a fraud alert or a credit freeze with TransUnion as soon as you suspect identity theft.

• Call 1‑800‑680‑7289 or log in to TransUnion's online portal to start a freeze; the freeze blocks new accounts until you lift it with a PIN or password.
• Request an initial fraud alert (free, 90‑day duration) by calling 1‑877‑876‑4422; TransUnion must notify the other two bureaus, which share the alert automatically.
• If you need extended protection, upgrade to an extended fraud alert (seven‑year term) by providing a police report or FTC IdentityTheftReport.gov reference; TransUnion will require the same documentation from any data furnisher you dispute.
• Keep the confirmation number, PIN, or password in a secure place; you'll need it to lift or temporarily unblock the freeze while you dispute fraudulent items under the 30‑day FCRA response window.

With the alert or freeze in place, you can continue correcting the TransUnion report without new fraudulent entries appearing, then move on to unmixing any other persons' accounts that may have slipped onto your file.

Unmixing means separating your own credit history from another person's accounts that were mistakenly merged into your TransUnion report. The error usually occurs when two consumers share the same name, address, or Social Security number fragment, causing the data furnisher to attach the wrong records.

First, locate every foreign account on the report you pulled and marked earlier. Then file a dispute with TransUnion, attaching a government ID, a utility bill proving your current residence, and a statement that the listed accounts are not yours; TransUnion must investigate within the 30‑day FCRA timeline. Next, send the same documentation directly to the data furnisher named on each offending entry, requesting that they correct the consumer identifier and resend an accurate file.

Follow up with a written 're‑mix' request to TransUnion, citing the dispute reference number and the furnisher's response, and ask for a revised report that removes the foreign accounts. Finally, monitor the updated report for the corrected entries and keep the dispute ID handy for the next section on handling refusals. For detailed guidance, see how to correct credit report errors.

If TransUnion denies your dispute, you must force a reinvestigation. Send a follow‑up letter that includes every document you previously supplied, any new proof, and a clear request that the agency re‑examine the item within the 30‑day FCRA timeline. Label the letter 'Re‑investigation Request' and keep a copy for your records.

Next, contact the data furnisher directly. Provide the same evidence and a deadline to correct the information; furnisher compliance triggers an automatic update on your TransUnion report. If the furnisher refuses, add a brief consumer statement to the item so future lenders see your side of the story.

When all internal avenues fail, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to pressure TransUnion, then consider escalating to your state attorney general or a FCRA lawsuit - topics we explore in the next section.file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Suing is worth considering only after the TransUnion report dispute cycle has failed repeatedly and the data furnisher ignored the FCRA 30‑day deadline.

If you have pulled the report, marked every error, filed a dispute, contacted the creditor, tracked response deadlines, reopened ignored disputes, and still see the same inaccurate entry, you now have standing under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to seek actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney fees.

A lawsuit makes sense when the error depresses your credit score enough to cause loan denial, higher interest rates, or employment loss, and when the potential recovery exceeds the cost of litigation. Consult a consumer‑rights attorney and cite Fair Credit Reporting Act guidance in your complaint.

If the mistake is minor, does not affect your score, or you have not exhausted every internal remedy - such as filing a fresh dispute after the 30‑day window, escalating to the CFPB, or contacting your state attorney general - pursuing a suit is usually unjustified.

Litigation is costly, time‑consuming, and can suspend further disputes while the case proceeds. In most cases, continued pressure on the data furnisher or filing a complaint with the CFPB yields a quicker correction without the financial and emotional toll of a lawsuit.