How to Correct Adverse Information on Credit Reports

Your credit report affects your ability to get a loan, apartment, or even a job. As such, you need to dispute any adverse information on your report if you know for a fact that it is false.

Things You'll Need

• Proof of the error or problem (typically a receipt or bill of sale)

Instructions

Resolving the Issue

1. Try to resolve the problem with the merchant or other company. Indicate that you'd rather not take this to the credit bureaus, but you will if you must.

2. If the company does not agree, file a dispute with a consumer reporting company or credit bureau such as Equifax, Experian or Transunion. Write a letter providing facts and the reason for your dispute to the consumer reporting company.

3. Enclose copies of any supporting documents with the letter, as well as a copy of your credit report with the disputed parts circled. Send the letter via certified mail to the address of the company.

4. Once you have disputed the claim, inform the company in writing that your dispute is centered around your claim.

5. Wait for the results of the bureau's investigation; the bureau will investigate the claim, and take in both sides of the story, within 30 days.

6. If the investigation ends up not in your favor, request that your statement regarding the dispute be attached to the credit report.

Tips & Warnings

• Have as much information in your favor as possible on hand, and send copies of any information that will help you to the bureau. Send anything that the company requests via certified mail with a return receipt.

• The adverse information in question must not have been caused by your doing (i.e, it must be as a result of identity theft or a mischarged item.) If you are caught changing something you know is your fault, you may be charged with fraud and prosecuted.

References

• Disputing Credit Report Errors