Online Credit Reports

Dispute Credit Report Errors - Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian (formerly TRW) ...

If you have errors on your credit report, you should start by writing the credit bureau that is reporting the information you would like to dispute. It is important to note that there are three major credit bureaus that collect information on you - Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian (formerly TRW) - but they do not cross verify their information. If one credit bureau contains errors - the other two may or may not contain errors, or they may contain entirely different errors. Submitting a dispute to one credit bureau does not take care of errors reported by the other two. To cover every base, you should get copies of all three credit reports, and dispute each one separately.

When you submit a dispute you must provide your full name, address, and social security number. You should also attach a copy of the credit report that contains the errors you wish to dispute. Circle each error and write a detailed explanation clarifying why each item is inaccurate. Include any supporting documentation you have.

Example...

Your Name
Your address
Your Social Security Number

Name of the credit bureau
Their address

Date

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to dispute the following information contained in my credit file. I have enclosed a copy of my credit report and circled each item I would like to dispute.

(Continue by explaining each error clearly and concisely - )

Step 1 Item number

Item one

 Account number and creditors' name

Account # 000000 - Maine Credit Union
Step 2 Provide a detailed explanation regarding the nature of the error.

This item is inaccurate/ incomplete because ...
Step 3 Identify any supporting documentation you have enclosed (payment records, court documents, receipts etc...)

I have enclosed ......................., which supports my claim that this item is inaccurate.
Step 4 Identify the action you would like taken.

Please update/delete/correct this account.

Repeat steps 1 - 4 for each error you would like to dispute -

Sincerely,

Your Name

enclosures: (List all documentation you have enclosed)

What happens after you submit your dispute?

After you submit a dispute, the credit bureau has 30 days to verify the information and update your credit file. If the information cannot be verified they must remove it. The credit bureau must also send you a free copy of your credit report if changes have resulted from the dispute. In addition, at your request, the credit bureau must send a notice of the corrections to anyone who has received your report in the past six months. Job applicants can have a corrected copy of their credit report sent to any employer who has requested their report in the past two years.

Contacting the three major credit bureaus...
  • Equifax - P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 - 800-685-1111
  • Trans Union - P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022 - 800-916-8800
  • Experian (formerly TRW) - P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013 - 888-397-3742

Is your credit report accurate?

Find out... Get a copy of your 3 bureau credit report!