What to Do If Equifax Has My Name Wrong?

The wrong name appears in the personal‑information block and/or beside individual accounts on your Equifax credit report.

1. Log in to Equifax's free credit report portal or request a mailed copy.
2. Open the PDF or web view and scroll to the 'Personal Information' section near the top.
3. Compare the listed first name, middle initial, and last name with the exact spelling on your driver's license or passport.
4. Note any extra spaces, missing letters, or swapped characters (e.g., 'John D​oe' vs. 'John Doe').
5. Use the browser's 'find' (Ctrl F) to search for your full name; this highlights every occurrence across the report.
6. Scan each account entry - credit cards, mortgages, utilities - to see if a creditor listed a different name variant.
7. Record the line number or account ID where the error shows up; a simple screenshot or photo works best.
8. Write the exact typo as it appears (including punctuation) in a short note; you'll paste this into the upcoming dispute form.

(Next, gather the five documents needed for your dispute in the following section.)

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• Attach a clear, color copy of a government‑issued ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) that displays the correct spelling.
• Attach a recent utility or bank statement that includes your full name and current address.
• Attach a copy of your Social Security card or a Social Security Administration printout showing the correct name.
• Attach a marriage certificate, court order, or deed that legally documents a name change, if applicable.
• Attach a signed, dated letter from the creditor or data furnisher confirming the correct name on their records.

Log into the Equifax consumer portal and use the 'File a Dispute' tool to start an online dispute.

Before you click 'Submit,' gather the five documents you identified earlier (government ID, utility bill, bank statement, credit‑card statement, and a notarized name‑change form). Scan them to PDF, name each file clearly (e.g., 'Passport‑ID.pdf'), and keep the files under 5 MB so the upload works smoothly.

Steps to file the dispute online

• Go to Equifax's dispute page and sign in or create a free account.
• Select the credit report that shows the wrong name and click 'Dispute Items.'
• Choose 'Personal Information' as the dispute category, then 'Name' as the specific item.
• Enter the correct spelling, add a brief explanation (e.g., 'My legal name is John A. Doe, not Jon A. Doe'), and attach the prepared PDFs.
• Review the summary, confirm accuracy, and submit. Equifax must investigate within 30 days and will post the result in your online portal.

Watch the portal for the investigation outcome; if the error persists, move on to the certified‑mail dispute outlined in the next section.

Send a certified mail dispute to Equifax by mailing a one‑page, signed letter that names the incorrect entry, cites the correct spelling, and lists your Social Security number, birth date, and current address.

Attach a photocopy of the credit report showing the error, a government ID, and any supporting documents (e.g., utility bill, passport) and address the envelope to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348, using Certified Mail with Return Receipt to obtain a tracking number and proof of delivery.

Keep the receipt and the returned receipt in a file; Equifax must respond within 30 days. If the response still shows the wrong name, move on to the next step - contact the creditor that supplied the inaccurate data and ask them to correct their report.

Contact the creditor directly and demand they correct the name they reported to the Equifax credit report.

• Locate the creditor's dispute address (often listed on statements or the company website).
• Draft a brief letter that cites the exact error on your Equifax report, states the correct spelling, and attaches the five supporting documents detailed earlier.
• Mail the letter and attachments by certified mail, request a return receipt, and keep copies for your records.
• Ask for written confirmation that the creditor will update their file within the 30‑day investigation period.
• Record the case number, mailing date, and follow up after 15 days if you have not heard back; unresolved refusals lead to the next step of correcting your name at Experian and TransUnion.

Update your Experian and TransUnion files the same way you disputed with Equifax: log into each bureau's online dispute portal, upload the ID and proof of correct spelling you already gathered, and submit the request. Use the Experian online dispute center and the TransUnion dispute page for a quick start.

After submission, allow up to 30 days for the bureaus to investigate. If the name remains wrong, send a certified‑mail copy of your dispute and supporting documents to the bureau's address; then proceed to the 'track your dispute timeline and set reminders' section to keep tabs on progress.

Monitor every dispute deadline so you never miss the 30‑day response window. Use a simple tracking sheet or app, then set automatic reminders before each critical date.

1. Log the filing date, method (online or certified mail), and reference number in a spreadsheet. Include columns for 'Equifax response due' (30 days later) and 'Follow‑up needed'.
2. Create calendar events for the response due date and a reminder three days prior. Label them clearly, e.g., 'Equifax dispute response due'.
3. If you filed by certified mail, add the USPS tracking number to the log. Verify delivery confirmation and note the date the letter was received by Equifax.
4. When the 30‑day deadline passes without a response, trigger a second reminder. Prepare a copy of the original dispute and send a follow‑up via certified mail, referencing the initial case number.
5. Update the sheet after each outcome - acceptance, partial correction, or request for more info. Use the updated timeline to decide whether to move on to the next step, such as contacting the creditor or escalating to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guide.

Standardize your name format across all credit files to prevent future errors.

Define a single, consistent version of your legal name and use it on every credit‑related document. Matching the name on your Social Security record eliminates the guesswork that triggers mismatches on the Equifax credit report, reduces the need for repeated disputes, and speeds up any future corrections.

Examples:

• Use 'John A. Doe' everywhere if 'A.' is your middle initial; don't alternate between 'John Doe' and 'John Adam Doe'.
• Exclude nicknames such as 'Johnny' or 'J.'; stick to the legal spelling.
• Keep suffixes consistent - write 'Jr.' or 'III' exactly the same way on all accounts.
• Omit periods and commas; 'John A Doe' matches the format used by Experian and TransUnion.
• Verify that the name on your driver's license, passport, and Social Security card all read identically, then copy that version into every new credit application, online dispute, or certified‑mail request.

Once your name is uniform, the next step is to file an FTC identity‑theft report if you suspect fraud, ensuring all bureaus recognize the corrected format.

• File an FTC Identity Theft Report only when you suspect real identity theft, not for a simple name typo.
• Collect evidence such as unauthorized accounts, fraud alerts, or credit‑monitoring notices that show misuse of your personal data.
• Visit the FTC Identity Theft reporting page, complete the online questionnaire, and obtain an official report number.
• Print the report and include it with any dispute you send to Equifax or creditors if the name error is part of a broader theft case.
• Cite the report number when contacting Equifax, the creditor, or the CFPB; it validates a legitimate theft claim and starts the bureau's 30‑day investigation window.

Raise your 663 Equifax score to the 700‑range in six months by tackling the three pillars that drive the Equifax scale: payment history, credit utilization, and depth of credit.

Focus each month on one pillar, using these concrete actions:

• Month 1‑2: Pull your free Equifax report, dispute any inaccuracies, and pay down revolving balances to below 30 % of each limit.
• Month 3‑4: Set up automatic on‑time payments, keep new purchases under 10 % of limits, and add a secured or low‑limit credit‑builder card if you have fewer than three open accounts.
• Month 5‑6: Freeze hard inquiries, consider a small installment loan or credit‑builder loan (credit‑builder loan benefits), and monitor score weekly to confirm progress.

By month six you'll likely see the score climb into the Good band (670‑739), unlocking better rates and approvals discussed in the next section.

Escalate to CFPB or your state attorney general when Equifax fails to correct the name error within the 30‑day dispute window. File a formal complaint to add regulatory pressure and trigger a supervisory review.

Open file a CFPB complaint, upload your original dispute, the certified‑mail proof, and any response from Equifax. The agency forwards your file to Equifax, tracks their reply, and notifies you of the outcome. Keep a copy of the confirmation number for follow‑up.

Visit your state attorney general's consumer protection site, locate the online complaint form or mailing address, and submit the same documentation. The attorney general can investigate, demand correction, and, if warranted, pursue enforcement action against Equifax.