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How to Dispute Credit Report Errors: Sample Letters and Guide

Key Takeaways

  • The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on your credit report, and credit reporting agencies generally have 30 days to investigate.
  • To dispute an error, send a written letter by certified mail to both the credit bureau and the company that furnished the information, explaining what is wrong and including supporting documents.
  • If the error isn't fixed after your dispute, an FCRA attorney can help you recover statutory, actual, and punitive damages and attorney's fees, and Maginnis Howard offers free consultations and works on contingency.

In This Article

someone viewing their credit report

Your credit report can hold the key to your future. For that reason, it’s crucial that whatever information is in your file is 100% accurate. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information. If you believe your report contains errors, don’t hesitate to start the dispute process. In this article, we compiled examples of how to send dispute letters along with other key information to help you get started. If you dispute the information, but it isn’t removed, contact us for a free consultation. Our credit reporting attorneys represent clients across the Carolinas.

What Is a Credit Report?

A credit report is a type of consumer report that includes personal information, credit and collection accounts, public records, and inquiries. This data is protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that promotes accuracy, fairness, and privacy in consumer reports. Lenders use this information to determine if they will loan you money and at what interest rate. Credit reports are also commonly requested by insurers, landlords, and other businesses to make other critical determinations about you.

How Do I See My Credit Report?

The FCRA entitles you to free copies of your credit reports from the three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You have the right to three free copies a year (one from each bureau), but since the pandemic, you can access each weekly. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request copies. This is the only federally authorized source for your free credit reports. Other sites may charge you a fee or misuse your information. Request reports from all three bureaus, verify your identity, and review each report in detail. You can download a free, detailed guide to check your credit report here.

What Should I Look for on My Credit Report?

Unfortunately, credit reporting errors are strikingly common. An FTC study showed that 1 in 5 Americans has an error on one of their three reports. Credit report errors have serious consequences, so it’s important to look for these common errors:

  • Identity Errors: You may find inaccuracies in personal information such as your name, address, or phone number. In some cases, you may even find your file has been mixed with another person’s.
  • Incorrect Account Status: Ensure your accounts are accurately represented. Common errors include a closed account listed as open or payments incorrectly reported as late. Other mistakes include the same account being listed twice or incorrectly reported as an account owner when you are an authorized user.
  • Unauthorized Activity: Identity theft has become increasingly prevalent. In many cases, you may not even realize your identity was stolen until you try to take out a loan or rent an apartment. Checking your credit reports gives you a chance to proactively catch fraudulent accounts or unauthorized credit inquiries before too much damage is done.

Dispute anything incorrect or fraudulent as soon as possible to prevent lasting harm.

What Causes Credit Report Errors?

Credit report errors can occur in several ways. For one, the rise of artificial intelligence means data scrapers, and not humans, are compiling vast amounts of information. Machines sometimes identify two people with similar names and lump data into one person’s report. Other causes of credit report errors include data entry mistakes, out-of-date account information, incorrect public records merging, and identity theft.

How Do I Dispute Errors on a Credit Report?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute inaccuracies on your credit report. This usually involves contacting the reporting agency and the furnisher (the company that provided the information). While companies offer several dispute methods, we urge consumers to submit disputes in writing. You must explain what is wrong, why, and include any documentation to support your claim. Mail your dispute letter via certified mail to keep a concrete paper trail of evidence.

Sample Dispute Letters

Sample Dispute to a Credit Reporting Agency

[Your Name]
[Consumer Report Number]
[Your DOB]
[Your Address]

[Date]

[Agency]
[Agency Address]

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to dispute [item(s) you identified] as [inaccurate or incomplete]...

  • [For example, a copy of the credit report with the issue(s) circled.]
  • [For example, proof of a paid-off debt.]

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Telephone]
[Email]

Sample Dispute Letter: Furnisher

If your issues are the result of a bank, creditor, or other financial furnisher, you can use the following template to dispute inaccuracies:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]

[Date]

[Name of Furnishing Company / Bank / Creditor]
Attn: [Relevant Department]
[Company Address]

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to dispute inaccurate information [company] reported to [credit bureau(s)] regarding my account. A recent credit report listed the following error(s):

  • [Error and why it is inaccurate]
  • [For example, the account states I was delinquent on a payment, but my bank statement shows a payment was made on time.]

Enclosed are documents supporting my claim:

  • A copy of my credit report with the error circled/highlighted.
  • Copies of [evidence; for example: bank statements, receipts].

Please investigate this dispute, remove the inaccurate information, and provide me with a written notification of your findings. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Telephone]
[Email]

What Happens After a Dispute?

Generally, a credit reporting agency has 30 days from the date of receipt to investigate your dispute. Then, they have an additional 5 days after the investigation closes to send you the results. If the investigation does not resolve the error, contact a Fair Credit Reporting Act attorney immediately. Our FCRA lawyers have proven experience representing clients who have struggled to get incorrect and outdated information off their credit reports. We offer free consultations and represent our consumer clients on a contingency basis. That means you don’t pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Hire a Credit Reporting Attorney?

An experienced credit reporting lawyer will help shoulder the burden and potentially recover compensation on your behalf. Credit report errors are a serious issue that can impact many parts of a person’s life. That’s why the Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to recover the following for violations:

  • Statutory Damages: Damages set by the FCRA, ranging from $100 to $1,000 per willful violation.
  • Actual Damages: Damages that compensate you for economic loss, such as higher interest loan rates. This category also covers emotional distress.
  • Punitive Damages: Penalties that act as punishment, rather than recompensation, for particularly bad behavior.
  • Attorney’s Fees: The legal fees are paid for by the opposing side if your claim is successful.

Why Hire a Credit Reporting Attorney?

If your credit report is displaying inaccurate information, don’t delay. Dispute the information as soon as possible and contact Maginnis Howard for expert representation. Our attorneys will work with you to determine the source of the error and hold all responsible parties accountable. Our firm offers free consultations for all FCRA claims. To get started, call our office at (919) 526-0450 or send us a message through our contact page. To assess your case, we may ask you to share documentation. We represent clients throughout the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices.

 

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