Field guide · Credit disputes
Credit Report Disputes: How the Process Works
A credit-report dispute is a process for challenging information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Here's how to decide whether a dispute fits, who receives it, and what happens next.
Before you dispute: identify the exact problem
Start with the specific field or fact you believe is wrong. “This account hurts my credit” is different from “this account is not mine,” “the balance is wrong,” or “this payment was reported late even though my records show it was on time.” Accurate negative information generally cannot simply be removed because it is negative.
Who should receive the dispute?
Current CFPB guidance says consumers should dispute inaccurate information with the credit reporting company and with the company that furnished the information. The bureau investigates the disputed reporting and sends relevant information to the furnisher; the furnisher also has duties to investigate information it reported.
The dispute lifecycle
- Identify: isolate the exact information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Document: collect records that support the correction you are requesting.
- Dispute: contact the appropriate credit reporting company and the furnisher.
- Investigate: the companies review the information and evidence.
- Receive results: review the written outcome and any updated report.
- Follow up: if the issue remains unresolved, determine which next step fits the result rather than automatically repeating the same dispute.
How long does it take?
The CFPB says a credit reporting company generally has 30 days to investigate a dispute. Certain circumstances can extend that period to 45 days, including when relevant additional information is submitted during the investigation. After the investigation is completed, the company generally has five business days to notify you of the results.
What if the dispute doesn't resolve the issue?
Read the result first. An unchanged result is not automatically proof that the reporting is correct or incorrect; it tells you what the investigation concluded. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to provide additional relevant information, ask to add a statement of dispute to your file, seek legal advice, or use an appropriate complaint process.
For complaints to the CFPB about inaccurate or incomplete information at a credit reporting agency, current CFPB instructions say consumers generally must first dispute directly with the credit reporting agency and should not submit the complaint while that dispute remains pending or before the applicable waiting period.
Ready to prepare a specific dispute?
Use the step-by-step guide for documentation, submission, recordkeeping, and follow-up.