Dispute guides
There is more than one kind of dispute, and sending the wrong one wastes a month. Start here.
Disputing with a credit bureau
The standard route. You tell Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion what is inaccurate; they must reinvestigate and tell you the result.
Disputing directly with the company that reported it
The bank, lender, or collector that sent the information to the bureau. Often the faster fix, because they are the source of the error.
Identity theft: blocking information
A separate process with its own requirements, including an identity theft report. Do not use an ordinary dispute for this.
When the dispute did not work
They verified it anyway, they called it frivolous, or they never answered. What each of those means and what comes next.
Which one do I need?
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| An account is mine but the balance, status, or dates are wrong | Both a bureau dispute and a direct dispute to the furnisher |
| An account is not mine at all, and no fraud is involved (it belongs to someone with a similar name) | Bureau dispute, with identity documents |
| An account was opened by someone using my identity | Identity theft block — not an ordinary dispute |
| A debt I paid or settled still reports as owing | Direct dispute to the furnisher, with your proof of payment |
| A debt discharged in bankruptcy reports as past due | Both, with a copy of the discharge order and schedules |
| I already disputed and they verified it anyway | The follow-up guide |
Three rules that apply to every dispute
- Be specific and be factual. Identify the account, quote what the report says, state what is actually true, and say what correction you want. Do not argue, do not editorialize, and do not include anything you are not certain of.
- Send copies, keep originals. Everything you mail is gone. Keep a complete copy of every letter and enclosure exactly as sent.
- Create a delivery record. Certified mail with return receipt, or another method that proves what arrived and when. If this ever becomes a legal dispute, the date of receipt is the fact everything else hangs on.