The Credit Field Guide
What Your Credit Report Dispute Results Mean
Learn what to review when an investigation ends and what options may exist if you still believe information is inaccurate.
The key rule: a credit report dispute is for information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. It is not a legal shortcut for deleting accurate, current negative information.
How the process generally works
- Identify the specific information you believe is wrong.
- Gather documents that support your position.
- Dispute with the credit reporting company reporting the issue.
- Dispute with the company that furnished the information.
- Keep records and review the investigation results carefully.
Credit reporting companies generally must investigate within 30 days. Certain circumstances can extend an investigation to 45 days. Disputing errors yourself is free.
What not to assume
Do not assume that every negative item can or should be removed. Current CFPB guidance says accurate negative information generally cannot be removed simply because it hurts your credit. If the information is accurate, the next step is usually different from the dispute path.
Continue through the field guide
Primary sources
- CFPB - How to dispute an error
- CFPB - Credit report dispute timing
- FTC - Disputing errors on credit reports
Last reviewed: October 2, 2026