Quick overview: your rights and where to start
If you find an inaccuracy on a credit report, federal law gives you the right to dispute it and requires credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and the companies that furnished the information to investigate. Start by filing a clear, documented dispute with both the credit reporting company and the furnisher; include copies of supporting documents and keep records of delivery. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate and must forward your dispute to the furnisher. If the bureau or furnisher won’t fix what’s wrong, you have escalation options — including filing complaints with regulators and, in some cases, suing under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
(Key consumer guidance and dispute templates are published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission.)
Sources: CFPB dispute guidance and FTC consumer materials.
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Step-by-step escalation plan
1) Verify and document the error
- Order your reports from AnnualCreditReport.com (or the bureau involved) and circle/highlight the incorrect entry.
- Collect supporting documents: statements, payment records, identity documents, account numbers, police/identity-theft reports if relevant.
2) Dispute properly — with the bureau and the furnisher
File a dispute with the credit reporting company (online, by mail, or phone) and separately with the furnisher (the bank, lender, debt collector, landlord, etc.). Your letters should: identify the item, explain why it’s wrong, and attach copies (never originals) of supporting documents. Sending disputes by certified mail with return receipt gives a clear record.
Why both? The bureau must investigate and usually forwards your dispute to the furnisher; the furnisher must investigate and, if it finds an error, notify all three bureaus to correct it.
Timelines: A furnisher generally has 30 days to investigate from receipt of your dispute; the bureau must complete its investigation within 30 days unless it considers the dispute frivolous. If a bureau thinks the dispute is frivolous it must notify you and explain why, usually within five business days of that decision.
Sources: CFPB and FTC guidance on disputes and sample letters.
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When the bureau still won’t correct the error — practical escalation
A. Double-check process compliance
Before escalating, confirm the bureau followed the process: did they receive your dispute, forward it to the furnisher, and complete a reinvestigation within the required timeframe? Ask the bureau for the investigation report or results and any communication they received from the furnisher.
B. File a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general
If you can show the bureau or furnisher failed to investigate, reinstate incorrect information, or ignored your dispute, submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB forwards the complaint to the company and often gets a response within about 15 days; you’ll receive a tracking number and can upload supporting documents. You can also file with your state attorney general’s consumer protection division — some states actively enforce the FCRA and related state laws.
Source: CFPB complaint process and contact info.
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C. Add a consumer statement and request reinsertion prevention
If the furnisher insists the entry is correct, ask the bureaus to add a short consumer statement to your file explaining your side (this will appear with your report). If an item was removed but later reinserted incorrectly, notify the bureau in writing and ask for steps to prevent reinsertion.
D. Consider legal remedies (small claims or federal court)
The FCRA gives consumers private rights to sue consumer reporting agencies and furnishers for willful or negligent noncompliance, including damage recovery in some cases. If you believe the bureau or furnisher violated the FCRA (for example, failed to conduct a reasonable investigation or willfully reinserted false information), consult a consumer-rights attorney about filing suit. Statutes of limitation and remedies vary by claim and state, so get local legal advice before proceeding.
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E. When to consider a credit-repair service
Credit repair companies cannot do anything you can’t do yourself under the FCRA. If you use a company, choose one that complies with the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), provides a written contract, and lets you cancel within the required period. Many consumers handle disputes themselves for free using the sample letters and templates from government sites.
Sources: FTC consumer guidance and sample letters.
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Practical sample dispute template (short)
[Date] [Your name] [Your address] [Credit Bureau name & address] Re: Dispute of account [account number] I dispute the following item on my credit report: [describe item]. This information is inaccurate because [brief reason]. Enclosed are copies of documents that support my position. Please investigate, correct, or remove this information and notify me of the results. Sincerely, [Your name]
Use this as a starting point — customize with exact account numbers, dates, and evidence.