How To Dispute Credit Report Errors

If you have detected a mistake on your credit report, you probably want to know how to dispute credit report errors. These type of mistakes could be a sign that you have been a victim of identity theft. If you find a mistake, both the credit reporting agency and the company who provided the inaccurate information are required to correct it, according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Follow these steps to dispute an error that you find on your credit report:

1. Inform the credit reporting agency of the error in writing. Once they receive a written request to dispute an item on your credit report, they must investigate the item within 30 days.
2. Tell the company who provided the information about the error in writing. Many companies have an address specifically set up for disputes. Once you have disputed an item, they must include a note about your dispute when they report this item again. If the item is proven to be inaccurate after the investigation, they are prohibited from reporting the item again.
3. When the investigation is complete, the credit reporting agency will provide you with the results as well as a free copy of your credit report. If the item was found to be inaccurate, they must report this to the other credit reporting agencies.
4. If the dispute is not resolved, you can ask that a note about the dispute be included in your credit file. This will inform potential creditors that you do not agree with the item in question.