A wrong name, an old address or a payment marked late when you paid on time can sit on a credit report for a long time. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says you have the right to dispute errors on your credit report. The steps below come from federal guidance. They are written for readers who may be new to the U.S. system or who read English as a second language. The sources are quiet on several points that matter to those readers, and this piece says so where it applies.

Hands sorting a printed credit file and supporting paperwork on a sofa in soft daylight at home
A consumer reviews a printed credit file alongside dispute correspondence and supporting records.

Know who holds the error

Fixing a mistake generally means contacting two parties. One is the credit reporting company that shows the error. The other is the business that supplied the information, often called the furnisher. This comes from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The three nationwide credit reporting companies are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. An error may appear on one report and not the others. So check each report and dispute with the company or companies that show the problem.

According to USAGov, common errors include a wrong name or address on an account and an incorrect date for a payment you made. Read each line slowly. Mark every item that looks wrong.

Write the dispute letter

Start by disputing in writing. Explain what you think is wrong and why. Include copies of documents that support your case. The CFPB also publishes instructions and a template letter you can use as a guide.

The CFPB lists what the letter should contain:

  • Your complete name, address and telephone number
  • The credit report confirmation number, if you have one
  • Each error, with the account number for any disputed account
  • A clear explanation of why each item is wrong
  • A request that the item be removed or corrected
  • A copy of the disputed part of your report, with the items circled or highlighted

Send copies of your supporting documents, never originals. Bank receipts and billing statements are the kind of records that can show a payment was made. Keep a set for yourself.

Send it and keep proof

Mail the letter by certified mail with a return receipt. The CFPB says this gives you a record that the letter was received. Keep the receipt with your copy of the letter.

USAGov advises sending the documents and letter to the credit reporting company whose report is wrong and also to the company that gave the incorrect information. Sources do not say how long a bureau has to investigate. They also do not describe what happens after the investigation ends. Write down the date you mailed each letter so you can follow up.

If the written dispute with the bureau does not fix the error, USAGov says you can file a complaint with the CFPB. The sources do not explain what to do if the furnisher refuses to correct the information.

Language, documents and help by phone

Here the sources run thin. They do not say whether the bureaus or the CFPB accept letters written in other languages. They do not say whether foreign-language documents need an English translation or a certified one. They also do not describe free interpreter services at the bureaus or the CFPB. Before you mail anything not in English, ask the bureau directly what it accepts.

The sources also do not explain how a foreign credit history, an ITIN or a recent arrival might affect a dispute. Do not assume either way.

Some help is documented. The CFPB phone line is (855) 411-2372, with TTY/TTD at (855) 729-2372. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. USAGov offers free help with government questions at 1-844-872-4681.

The Federal Trade Commission publishes fraud and scam advice in 12 languages at ftc.gov/languages. The FTC also notes on its English-language page that scammers impersonate well-known organizations.

Identity theft and scam warnings

Sometimes the error is not a clerical slip. If you find accounts you did not open, you may be a victim of identity theft. The CFPB and USAGov both point to IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government's resource for reporting and recovering from it. Use it in addition to the standard dispute process.

Be wary of unexpected contacts. The FTC warns that calls, texts or emails that threaten arrest or make urgent demands are likely scams. Its warning about companies that promise to erase debt for pennies on the dollar and charge fees without doing the work concerns tax debt. It still shows a pattern worth watching for.

The sources do not state any fees for filing a dispute. If anyone asks you to pay to file one, stop and check the CFPB or FTC websites first.

Please seek a professional. This article is general information, not financial, tax or insurance advice. Please seek a licensed financial, tax or insurance professional about your own situation.