# How to Dispute Mistakes On Your Credit Report
Errors on your credit report can tank your score and cost you thousands in higher interest rates. The good news: you have legal rights to challenge inaccuracies.
Start by getting your free credit reports from all three bureaus. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each maintain separate files on you. Visit annualcreditreport.com, the official government-authorized site, to pull your reports at no cost once yearly. Review each report carefully for wrong accounts, incorrect balances, late payments you didn't make, or accounts that don't belong to you.
Once you spot an error, file a dispute. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to challenge inaccurate information. Contact the bureau in writing by mail or through their online dispute portal. Include copies of documents proving the error, such as payment confirmations or statements showing the correct balance. Be specific about what's wrong and what the correct information should be.
Also contact the creditor or lender directly. Send a written dispute explaining the error. Many mistakes come from creditor reporting errors, not bureau errors. Creditors must investigate disputes within 30 days and report findings back to the bureaus.
The bureaus then have 30 days to investigate your claim and respond in writing. If they can't verify the disputed information, they must remove it from your report. If the creditor confirms the error, the bureaus update your report accordingly. This process typically takes 30 to 60 days total.
Keep detailed records of everything. Document the date you filed each dispute, what you disputed, and all correspondence. If the bureaus refuse to remove legitimate errors, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or consult a consumer rights attorney.
Disputing errors takes effort but works. Studies show roughly