How To Fix Credit Bureau Errors

Get your three free annual credit reports instantly by heading to the official free credit report portal.

1. Open AnnualCreditReport.com, the only site authorized by the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
2. Enter your name, Social Security number, and current address exactly as they appear on your IDs.
3. Verify your identity with the security questions; they pull data directly from the bureaus.
4. Choose 'Equifax,' 'Experian,' and 'TransUnion' to receive all three reports in one session.
5. Download each PDF immediately and save them in a dedicated folder; the links expire after 30 days.

With the reports in hand, you can move to the next step - spotting personal‑info goofs - without delay.

Personal details are the foundation of every credit file, so verify them before hunting down account errors. Use the request your free annual credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to spot mismatches.

• Check name spelling and middle initial; a single character can split your file.
• Compare current and past addresses; outdated listings can hide inquiries.
• Confirm Social Security number digits; a transposed number creates a separate identity.
• Verify date of birth and birth state; errors often affect credit-score calculations.
• Review employer name and phone number; incorrect contact info may flag fraud alerts.

Spot fake accounts by cross‑checking each free annual report with the statements you actually receive. Pull the reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com, then run through this quick checklist:

• Mark any account whose name, creditor or balance looks unfamiliar.
• Call the creditor using the phone number on a real statement (or log into its secure portal) to ask if the account belongs to you.
• If the creditor says 'no,' file a fraud dispute on the bureau's online portal, attaching the denial letter as proof.
• Document the dispute reference numbers and watch for removal within the standard 30‑45‑day window.

Delete mystery inquiries today by disputing each one with the credit bureaus. First, pull your free annual reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, locate any hard inquiries you never authorized, and note the date and creditor name.

Then, log onto Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion's dispute portals or mail a certified‑letter stating, 'I did not authorize this inquiry; please remove it,' and attach any proof that you never opened the account (e.g., a 'no‑record' letter from the lender). The bureaus must investigate within 30‑45 days and report the result.

Repeat the dispute with all three bureaus, track each case in a spreadsheet, and confirm removal before moving on to the next error‑type section on faulty public records. If an inquiry reappears, submit a second dispute referencing the first outcome. This systematic approach clears mysterious inquiries fast and keeps your credit file clean.

You dispute faulty public records by contacting each credit bureau with proof that the entry is inaccurate. After pulling your free annual credit reports (free annual credit reports), focus on the public‑record sections.

• Identify the record (bankruptcy, tax lien, civil judgment, etc.) and note the creditor, account number, and filing date.
• Collect official documents that prove the error - court orders, lien releases, settlement statements, or a letter from the filing agency confirming correction.
• Write a brief dispute letter to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. State the record is wrong, list the inaccuracies, and attach copies of your supporting documents.
• Mail the letters by certified mail with return receipt, keeping copies for your records.
• The bureaus must investigate within 30‑45 days and send you the results. If they retain the record, they must supply the source of verification, which you can then challenge directly with the filing agency.

Disputing public‑record mistakes early prevents them from dragging down your score and sets the stage for the detailed account‑by‑account reviews in the next sections.

Gather the strongest, verifiable documents before you file any dispute. Pull the exact account statements that show the disputed balance, locate payment confirmations (bank PDFs, cleared‑check images, or online receipt screenshots), and request any creditor letters that correct an error. If you suspect fraud, attach a police report or FTC‑issued identity‑theft affidavit. Align each piece of evidence with the line item on your free annual reports so the bureau can see the mismatch instantly.

Package the proof into a single PDF per error, label it with the creditor name, date, and document type, then save copies for Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This organized file becomes the ammo you'll use when you hit all three bureaus hard later in the process, and it fits neatly inside the standard 30‑day window for dispute resolution.

Submit the identical dispute to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at the same time, using each bureau's online portal or certified‑mail package that includes the error description, supporting docs, and a clear request for correction.

All three bureaus keep independent files, so fixing one entry leaves the others untouched; filing everywhere forces each agency to investigate within the standard 30‑45‑day window and prevents the mistake from re‑appearing on any report.

Save the dispute confirmations, note the reference numbers, and set a calendar alert for 30 days - later you'll learn how to track that window and follow up if needed. Free annual reports can help you verify that the correction appears on every file.

Mark the day you submit each dispute and count the next 30 days as the bureau's investigation window, then monitor progress daily; log the dispute reference number, the date filed, and the credit‑report snapshot you downloaded from request your free annual credit reports, because those copies become your baseline for any changes. Use the online portal or phone app each credit bureau provides (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to check status updates, and set calendar alerts for the 30‑day deadline so you can spot delays before they turn into stonewalling.

If the bureau hasn't responded by the 30th day, follow up immediately - call the dispute line, send a certified‑mail follow‑up, or prepare to escalate as covered in the next section - because most investigations wrap up within 30‑45 days, and any longer indicates a need for further action.

Escalating means prompting a credit bureau - Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion - to act when it has ignored a dispute or returned an unsatisfactory result after the 30‑ to 45‑day statutory window. The process starts with a certified‑mail follow‑up that restates the original error, attaches proof, and cites the bureau's duty to investigate. If the bureau still fails to respond, you file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and, if needed, notify your state attorney general's consumer protection office. A phone call to the bureau's escalation department, referencing the dispute ID and the certified‑mail date, can also pressure a quicker resolution.

For example, after sending a dispute about a phantom credit card to Equifax, you wait 35 days and receive no correction. You mail a certified 'Escalation Letter' that repeats the dispute, includes the original credit report excerpt, and demands a response within 15 days. Equifax still does not act, so you submit an online complaint to the CFPB, upload the escalation letter, and copy the case number to Experian's 'Consumer Relations' line. When both bureaus remain silent, you contact the New York Attorney General's Office, providing the CFPB case ID and the certified‑mail receipt. This layered approach forces the bureaus to either correct the error or explain their inaction.

Mixed files occur when two or more consumers' information merges into one credit report, and you can split them by filing a file‑division request with each bureau.

Start by pulling your free annual reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Compare the personal data section across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; note any names, addresses, or Social Security numbers that don't belong to you. Then submit a written file‑division request that includes:

• Your full name, current address, and correct Social Security number
• A clear statement that the report contains mixed‑file information and you request a separation
• Copies of two forms of ID (driver's license, passport) and a utility bill showing your address
• A concise cover letter referencing the Fair Credit Reporting Act and requesting a corrected file within 30‑45 days

The bureaus will investigate, issue a revised report, and send you a confirmation notice. Once the file is clean, you can move on to gathering dispute proof for any remaining errors.