Inaccurate, outdated, unreportable, and flat-out false information on a credit report is unlawful. You have rights. We help you understand–and use–them.
You check your credit report and see a $12,000 account you’ve never opened, that’s been reported late six times, from a bank you’ve never used, in a state you’ve never even visited. Ummm…now what?
This type of incredibly harmful and frustrating credit report error happens far too often. Credit report errors can tank your score, destroy your loan options, get you rejected from offers, opportunities, housing, benefits, and more, and leave you wondering if the credit bureaus were just pulling names out of a hat when they put your credit report together.
So what should you do if your credit report is more fiction than fact? You start here. (And check out our practice pages for more info: credit reporting errors, bankruptcy reporting errors, deceased reporting, mixed credit reports.)
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What Should You Do If You Find an Error on Your Credit Report?
There’s no such thing as a harmless credit report error. Even a small mistake can tank your credit score, trigger higher interest rates, or get you denied for housing or jobs. Credit bureaus won’t take it seriously unless you do – so start strong.
Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you’re entitled to a fair and accurate credit file. But exercising that right takes effort.
- Pull All Three Credit Reports
- Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and request your full credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Yes – all three. Why? Because they’re like distant cousins who barely talk. One report might look perfectly fine while another is a flaming dumpster fire.
- These reports should be free to access once per week, and they’re the only truly comprehensive view you’ll get. Don’t rely on third-party apps for this step, get the raw data straight from the source.
- Review Your Reports Like a Detective
- Now it’s time to channel your inner forensic analyst. Comb through every section of your reports: personal information, account history, inquiries, and collections.
- Look for duplicate accounts, unfamiliar lenders, incorrect balances, odd payment histories, accounts that don’t belong to you, misspelled names, and even outdated addresses.
- Anything that doesn’t look right, probably isn’t. Highlight every questionable entry – you’ll need that list for your disputes.
- Collect Your Evidence
- Once you’ve identified the problems, start building your case. Screenshot the errors. Download and save the full reports. Gather supporting documents like bank statements, payoff letters, emails, or ID theft reports- anything that helps prove the information is incorrect.
- If you’ve disputed before and nothing changed, save every document and communications related to that dispute, too. Think of this as prepping your receipts for court because that’s where this could end up.
How to Fix an Error on Your Credit Report in 3 Steps
Now that you’ve spotted the credit report error, it’s time to fix it – ideally without losing your mind. Here’s how to move from “what the heck is this?” to “Case closed” in three steps.
Step 1: Dispute with the credit bureaus
Start with the three big ones – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Each has an online dispute portal, which is convenient but if you want a strong case, send your dispute by certified mail.
Sending it through certified mail provides proof they received it, and you avoid their limited online forms that often restrict how much you can say or upload, or ask you to waive key rights.
Include a detailed letter describing the error, copies of your credit report with the error highlighted, and any documents that prove it’s wrong. Think of this as giving them no excuse to dismiss your claim.
Step 2: Dispute with the furnisher
This is the source of the bad info, usually a bank, credit card company, or collection agency. Under the FCRA, they’re just as responsible as the credit bureaus for reporting accurate information.
Send them a copy of your dispute and documentation, and request a thorough investigation. If they ignore it or double down on their mistake, that’s a legal problem, and an opportunity for you to push back harder.
It’s good to note that it’s actually the credit bureau’s job to notify the data furnisher about your credit report error dispute, but if you really want to put your all into getting it fixed, it’s smart to do this step too.
Step 3: Wait (and follow up)
Credit bureaus typically have 30 days to investigate and respond to your dispute. Sometimes they’ll fix the issue quickly. Other times, they’ll claim they verified the info, even if their “investigation” was about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Don’t just sit and hope for the best, mark your calendar, follow up, and keep records of everything. If they don’t respond in time or make the problem worse, it’s officially time to bring in a credit report lawyer and escalate.
The Power Move- Put an End to the Cycle For Good in 1 Step!
Work with a credit report lawyer to fix credit report errors and we do the hard work for you.
We provide a FREE consultation to assess your situation, help identify and gather necessary documents and evidence, make phone calls, handle communications, walk you through the dispute process, draft a legally solid dispute letter, track timing and follow-ups, assess any harm you’ve suffered, file a lawsuit, and get you the fixes and money you deserve.
And you pay nothing upfront because they pay when we win. No Justice, No Fee.
How Do I Dispute an Error on My Credit Report? (And Actually Win)
The credit bureaus don’t make it easy for you to dispute credit report errors and win. Their goal? Close your dispute as fast as possible, with as little effort as possible. That means your dispute needs to be airtight.
Here’s how to do it like a pro:
- Dispute in writing. Online forms are fast but leave little room for evidence. A mailed dispute gives you control and leverage.
- Send it certified mail. Always get proof of receipt.
- Include detailed documentation. Think: bank statements, ID theft reports, loan contracts, or even previous credit report screenshots.
- Be painfully specific. “This account is not mine. I’ve never banked with XYZ. Attached is a statement showing my actual lender and payment history.”
Need help formatting your dispute? The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) offers a fantastic free guide that outlines step-by-step instructions and sample letters.
The team of credit report lawyers at Consumer Justice Law Firm are all proud members of both NCLC and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
When Do You Need a Credit Report Lawyer?
Now let’s talk about legal muscle.
Most people start by filing disputes for their credit report errors and hoping for the best. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn’t, and you’re stuck with a credit report error that’s wrecking your life. That’s when most people bring in a credit report lawyer.
You can also begin the process by consulting a credit report lawyer for FREE and we’ll take care of managing the entire process, from intake and evaluation through dispute, lawsuit, and resolution.
You can get legal help at any time when:
- You’ve first discovered a credit report error
- You’ve filed a dispute and the credit report error is still showing up
- The credit bureau or data furnisher fails to investigate or respond within 30 days
- You’re dealing with mixed files (like someone else’s debt showing up on your report)
- You’ve suffered denials, high interest rates, job rejections, lost housing, or mental stress due to credit report errors
- You’ve been through identity theft and can’t get the unauthorized and fraudulent transactions, loans, etc., removed
A credit report error lawyer can sue the credit bureau or furnisher for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). And yes, that includes financial compensation for emotional distress, lost opportunities, and actual damages.
If you’ve been harmed by an error, you don’t have to “just deal with it.”
Common Excuses Credit Bureaus Use (And Why They’re Weak)
Buckle up, because when credit report errors show up, the credit bureaus love to gaslight consumers with lines like:
- “We verified the information.” (With what? A dartboard?)
- “There’s not enough documentation.” (Even if you sent 15 pages!)
- “We’ve already investigated this.” (One half-baked review a year ago doesn’t count.)
- “Please resolve it with the furnisher.” (Legally, that’s their job. Not yours.)
These excuses are lazy and, frankly, not compliant with the FCRA. Credit reporting agencies are required by law to conduct a reasonable investigation. If they don’t, and especially if they harm you in the process, they can and should be held accountable.
How a Credit Reporting Error Lawyer Builds Your Case
Once you’ve had enough and decide to fight back against credit report errors, here’s how Consumer Justice Law Firm can help:
- We evaluate your report and confirm whether credit report errors and violations exist. This step is important because not everything that shows up is a credit report error under the Fair Credit Credit Reporting Act and other applicable laws.
- We review your disputes to see how and when you filed, and how the credit bureau or data furnisher responded (or didn’t). If you haven’t disputed yet, we take care of that entire process for you.
- We collect documentation – correspondence, denial letters, screenshots, identity theft affidavits, etc. We know what you need, why, and how to present it.
- We draft dispute letters. If you haven’t already disputed the credit report error on your own, we draft a legally sound dispute letter on your behalf.
- We determine legal violations under the FCRA and build a timeline of evidence-backed negligence or willful noncompliance by the credit bureaus and data furnishers.
- We file a lawsuit if necessary. We fight to get your credit report errors fixed and get you money for the harm you suffered.
- You pay nothing upfront. We get paid by the companies we sue, and only get paid when we win (through a judgment or settlement). No Justice, No Fee.
We’re not just legal tech support or a legal clearinghouse like some online sites. We’re a real law firm, stacked with real lawyers who’ve seen how credit report errors wreck lives. And we’re here to stop it.
Credit Report Errors Aren’t Just “An Inconvenience” – They’re Damaging
Let’s kill the myth once and for all – a credit report error isn’t just an inconvenience.
It’s not like getting the wrong milk in your latte – it’s like being billed for a business loan to open a Starbucks in Minnesota, but you’ve never left New Jersey and now your credit’s shot.
These credit report errors can completely derail your financial life, and they don’t just sting for a day or two.
A single inaccurate account or late payment can:
- Tank your credit score by 100+ points
- Lock you in for higher interest rate loans
- Prevent you from buying a home or car, at all, not just at a higher rate
- Lead to denied job offers (yep, employers check credit, especially for roles involving money or sensitive data)
- Raise your car or renter’s insurance premiums
- Get you rejected for apartments even if your income is solid
- Trigger anxiety, shame, and that awful pit-in-your-stomach feeling every time you check your credit
These errors happen because of things like sloppy data entry, outdated or duplicate records, identity theft, and mixed credit files (aka when someone else’s terrible credit health becomes your problem).
These aren’t small oversights. They’re system failures with real consequences. And if you’ve been dismissed or ghosted after trying to fix credit report errors, it’s not because you didn’t try hard enough.
It’s because the credit bureaus and data furnishers don’t take consumers seriously until they’re forced to – usually by us.
GET JUSTICE! Get Fixes and Money
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, our consumer protection lawyers do more than “take a look.” We fight – and we win.
Our attorneys have extensive experience holding credit bureaus and data furnishers accountable under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We help clients across the country get errors corrected, scores restored, and financial relief for the harm caused.
Whether it’s identity theft fallout, a misreported delinquency, or a zombie account from 2006 suddenly haunting your life – we’ve seen it, and we know exactly how to handle it.
And we don’t charge upfront. We only get paid if we win.
GET JUSTICE. Contact Consumer Justice Law Firm today.
Fixing someone else’s mistake shouldn’t be your full-time job. But it is ours. FREE CONSULTATIONS! No Justice, No Fee.