Protect and fix
What to do when something looks wrong on a report
Dispute in writing with the bureau and with the company that reported it. The bureau has 30 days to investigate.
You find an entry that is wrong. Do not panic and do not pay for a service to do this; the process is free and the law is on your side.
The short version
- Write down exactly what is wrong and keep a copy of the report page.
- Dispute it in writing with each bureau that shows it. The CFPB explains how to dispute an error on a credit report.
- Dispute it with the company that reported it as well.
- Keep your proof: statements, receipts, letters.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act a bureau generally must investigate within 30 days of receiving your dispute and tell you the results.
Do it step by step
Credit Help has the full walk-through and a free letter builder: how to dispute a credit report error.
Then
Put a date on the calendar to look again. Disputes finish; reports change; your next check-in is the natural time to confirm the fix held.
Sources
- CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report? consumerfinance.gov, accessed 2026-10-24
- 15 U.S.C. 1681i, procedure in case of disputed accuracy (Cornell LII) law.cornell.edu, accessed 2026-10-24
- CFPB: How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? consumerfinance.gov, accessed 2026-10-24
How this page was made
Drafted with a language model from the sources above. Jake Lawrence read it against those sources and signed it on October 24, 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Found an error? See Corrections.