How to Get Closed Accounts Removed From a Credit Report
Protecting and improving your credit score is one of the soundest financial courses of action you can undertake---but it requires vigilance on your part. Often, credit agencies don't update information on your credit report quickly or accurately, and it is up to you to ensure that things like closed accounts are removed from your report. It's not difficult to get closed accounts removed from your credit reports, but the process can be confusing. This step-by-step tutorial will walk you through removing closed accounts.
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Things You'll Need
- Past financial records
- Word processing program
- Paper
- Printer
- Envelopes
- Postage
- Highlighter (optional)
Instructions
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1
Request copies of your credit report from the three major credit agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. To request copies, you can use AnnualCreditReport.com or contact the agencies directly (see resources below). When requesting reports, you'll be asked to provide some personal information for security reasons---this can include your date of birth, your social security number or your most recent two to three home addresses.
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2
Sit down with the three credit reports and save the form that was enclosed by each to file disputes (if there are no dispute forms, don't worry---we can create letters in Step 4).
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3
Read each credit report carefully. Look not only for information on your closed accounts, but any other information that may be out-of-date or incorrect. Circle or highlight anything that that is incorrect. To be removed, closed accounts must be older than 7 years.
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4
Report any closed accounts (or other errors) on each company's dispute forms that came in your report. If you did not receive forms, you can draft a letter instead. Be sure to include your name, address, social security number and date of birth, as well as much information about the closed account as you have available.
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Submit the forms or letters either electronically or by mail. Use the most current address for the agency, as provided on your credit report.
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6
Wait for a decision. Each credit agency has 30 days to investigate each dispute and make a decision. You will be informed by mail or email, depending on the agency.
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Tips & Warnings
Order a credit report from all three agencies---you'll see that they report information differently. What may be accurate on one report may be incorrect on another. You are allowed to order free copies of your credit report from all credit agencies once every 12 months, or more frequently if you've been the victim of identity theft, on public assistance, have recently become unemployed or have been denied credit or employment because of something in your credit report.
Closed accounts need to be older than 7 years to be removed by a credit agency. If the account is less than 7 years old, you will have to contact the creditor with whom you held the account to request removal, although accounts that have been closed and are "free and clear" should not affect your credit score. If a credit agency disagrees with your dispute, you should call and speak to a customer service agent for more information: Experian: 888-243-6951 Equifax: 888-766-0008 TransUnion: 800-916-8800 Always check your credit report or the agency's website for the most current phone number.
