You can review your credit reports for free annually and dispute any errors you find directly with the credit bureaus or the businesses that supplied the information.
Your credit reports contain important financial information, and errors can affect your ability to get loans or credit. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com. Carefully review each section for inaccuracies, such as incorrect personal information, accounts you don't recognize, or wrong payment statuses. If you find an error, you can dispute it online, by mail, or by phone with the credit bureau. They are required to investigate your claim.
While disputing errors can help correct your credit report, it does not guarantee a specific credit score increase or loan approval.
How long does the credit bureau investigation typically take after I file a dispute?
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate your dispute after receiving it. If you send additional information during the investigation, the timeframe can extend to 45 days. The bureau will contact the furnisher of the information (e.g., the original creditor) to verify the accuracy of the disputed item. Once the investigation is complete, the bureau will notify you of the results in writing and update your credit report if the item is found to be inaccurate.