How to Fix Equifax Errors?

Open the latest Equifax credit report and follow these steps to verify every line.

1. Get the report - Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or Equifax.com, register, and request the free annual Equifax credit report.
2. Download a PDF - Save the report as a PDF or print it; a static copy prevents accidental changes while you review.
3. Confirm personal details - Check name, Social Security number, date of birth, and all listed addresses. Any mismatch may cause downstream errors.
4. Scan each account - For every credit card, loan, or collection, verify the creditor name, account number, opening date, balance, and payment status.
5. Mark discrepancies - Highlight entries that show wrong balances, dates, or statuses such as 'late' when you were current. Note the exact wording and line number.
6. Record supporting info - For each error, write down the creditor's contact, the date you opened the account, and any statements that prove the correct information.
7. Check for unauthorized accounts - Look for lines you never opened; these often signal identity theft and will require separate fraud disputes.
8. Note the 30‑day rule - Under the FCRA, Equifax must investigate a dispute within 30 days of filing, so keep your list ready for the next section on submitting disputes.
9. Prepare for the dispute templates - The errors you catalog here will feed directly into the 'use 3 ready‑to‑send dispute templates' step, streamlining the filing process.
10. Save everything securely - Store the PDF, your notes, and any supporting documents in a dedicated folder; you'll need them for tracking deadlines and next actions.

Here are six errors you can spot in seconds on an Equifax credit report:

• Misspelled name, wrong Social Security number, or incorrect address; verify the personal‑information section matches your ID.
• Account listed as 'open' when you closed it; check the 'account status' column for each creditor.
• Duplicate entry for the same loan or credit card; compare the creditor name, account number, and balance to spot repeats.
• Balance that doesn't match your statements; look at the 'current balance' field and compare it to your latest bill.
• Delinquency reported after you paid on time; review the 'payment history' rows for any 30‑day or 60‑day marks that should be null.
• Inquiry you never authorized; scan the 'hard inquiries' section for unfamiliar lenders, which may indicate identity theft.

After spotting errors (see step 2), collect only the records Equifax will accept, because they verify identity, address, and the specific dispute. Provide clear, legible copies that show your full name and current address to avoid delays under the 30‑day FCRA investigation rule.

• Government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, state ID)
• Recent utility or phone bill (no older than 90 days) confirming residence
• Bank or credit‑card statement with your name and address
• Pay stub or recent tax return for income verification
• Insurance policy or bill matching your name and address
• Court order or judgment when disputing a legal filing
• Account statements, payoff letters, or cancelled‑check copies for the specific creditor in question

Here are three pre‑written dispute letters you can copy, paste, and send to Equifax today.

Each template follows the FCRA 30‑day investigation rule and references the specific error on your Equifax credit report.

• General error template - addresses incorrect personal information, wrong account status, or duplicate entries.
  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau general dispute letter
• Late‑payment removal template - requests deletion of a single late‑payment that is inaccurate or older than seven years.
  Federal Trade Commission late‑payment dispute example
• Identity‑theft fraud template - alerts Equifax to a fraudulent account, invokes the FCRA's fraud alert provision, and demands immediate correction.
  IdentityTheft.gov fraud dispute form

Submit your Equifax dispute online correctly by logging into the official Equifax dispute portal and completing the following steps.

1. Create or access your account - Visit the Equifax online dispute portal and sign in with your existing credentials or register using your Social Security number and birth date.
2. Select the credit report - Choose the most recent Equifax credit report (you obtained it in the 'Read your Equifax report step‑by‑step' section). The platform will display each listed item with a checkbox to initiate a dispute.
3. Identify the error - Check the box next to the specific error(s) you want to contest. The system prompts you to pick a dispute reason (e.g., 'Incorrect balance,' 'Account not mine,' 'Wrong public record'). Choose the one that matches the documentation you gathered earlier.
4. Upload supporting documents - Click 'Add file' and attach PDFs or images of the proof you compiled ('Gather the documents Equifax will accept' section). Acceptable files include bank statements, account statements, or a letter from the creditor. Each file must be under 5 MB.
5. Write a concise statement - In the free‑text box, summarize the error in two sentences: state what appears on the report, why it is wrong, and reference the attached document (e.g., 'The balance shown for Account 1234 is $5,200; the attached statement from XYZ Bank shows a $3,200 balance as of 01/15/2024').
6. Review and submit - Verify that every required field is filled, then click 'Submit dispute.' The portal generates a confirmation number and emails you a PDF receipt. Keep this receipt for the 'Track your disputes, deadlines, and next actions' section.
7. Monitor the 30‑day investigation - Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equifax must investigate within 30 days. The portal will update the status (e.g., 'In review,' 'Resolved'). If you receive a 'Closed - no change' response, you may proceed to 'Escalate unresolved errors to the CFPB and state agency.'
8. Save all correspondence - Download the final decision letter and any updated report. Store them with the original documents; you will need them if you later dispute the outcome via certified mail.

These actions ensure your online dispute is filed accurately, gives Equifax all required evidence, and triggers the statutory investigation timeline.

Send a certified‑mail dispute by drafting a one‑page letter that lists each error on your Equifax credit report, attaches supporting documents, and states that you request correction under the FCRA. Address it to Equifax's certified‑mail department, include a self‑addressed stamped envelope, and affix a USPS Certified Mail receipt so you can track delivery.

Keep a dated copy of the letter and all enclosures, then file the receipt and tracking number with the paperwork from the 'gather the documents' step. Equifax must investigate within 30 days; if they fail to respond or resolve the error, you can move on to contacting the creditor directly (see the next section).

Contact each creditor that supplied the faulty data and request them to correct their original report to Equifax.

• Find the creditor's dedicated dispute line or secure message portal; many banks list a 'credit reporting dispute' phone number or email.
• Send a concise request that cites the specific error, includes the Equifax credit report excerpt, and references the dispute ID you created earlier.
• Attach the same supporting documents you gathered in the 'gather the documents Equifax will accept' step.
• Ask the creditor to update their file, confirm the correction in writing, and trigger a notification to Equifax within the FCRA 30‑day investigation rule.
• Request a copy of the creditor's correction notice so you can file it later if you need to escalate.
• File the creditor's response in your dispute tracker before moving on to the 'track your disputes, deadlines, and next actions' section.

Log every Equifax credit report dispute in a single, easy‑to‑read tracker: note the filing date, the 30‑day response deadline, the response you receive, and the exact next step you'll take.

• Filing date - record the day you submitted the dispute (online portal, certified mail, or creditor request).
• Response deadline - under the FCRA's 30‑day investigation rule, Equifax must reply within 30 days of receipt. Mark this date in your tracker.
• Outcome - copy the final letter or screenshot of the updated Equifax credit report. Note whether the error was corrected, partially corrected, or left unchanged.
• Next action - if the error remains, schedule the appropriate follow‑up: resend a certified‑mail dispute, contact the creditor (section 7), or prepare to escalate to the CFPB (section 9).
• Status flag - use simple symbols (✓ corrected, ✗ unresolved, ↺ pending) so a quick glance tells you where you stand.

When the 30‑day window closes without a satisfactory correction, trigger the escalation step immediately; the tracker will show you exactly which disputes need that push.

If Equifax still refuses to correct an error after your online and mailed disputes, file a complaint with the CFPB and your state consumer‑protection agency.

1. Collect your Equifax credit report, the 30‑day investigation result letter, copies of every dispute you sent, and any supporting documents.
2. Go to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint portal, choose 'Equifax,' upload the files, and describe the error and dispute dates. CFPB will forward the complaint and give you a tracking number.
3. Locate your state's consumer‑credit office (search ' consumer protection agency'), then submit the same packet through its online form or by certified mail. Some states require a specific 'credit reporting dispute' form.
4. Monitor both portals: CFPB usually replies within 15 days; state agencies may take up to 30 days. Save any refusal letters; they trigger the next escalation steps.
5. A refusal may enable you to pursue an FCRA‑based civil claim; you'll need the denial letters from both agencies for that, which you'll address in the following section on removing fraudulent accounts.

Contact the creditor that opened the fraudulent account, provide a copy of your FTC identity theft report, and file a fraud‑alert dispute on your Equifax credit report; the FCRA requires Equifax to investigate within 30 days and correct any error. Include the police report, the FTC report, and the dispute template from section 4 to prove the account is not yours.

Send the same documents by certified mail, keep the receipt, and mark the dispute as 'fraud' in your tracking spreadsheet (section 8). If Equifax does not resolve the error within the 30‑day window, add a personal statement to your file and consider escalating to the CFPB. For additional guidance, see the Federal Trade Commission identity theft resources.