How to Dispute Your Credit Report

how to dispute your credit report

Reviewing and managing your information is an important part of protecting your data identity. Your credit report should be an accurate reflection of your information and story. So, if you notice something you believe is inaccurate on your TransUnion credit report, we’re here to help. Disputing your information with TransUnion is fast and easy. Follow the steps below to start a dispute online.

What information on a credit report can be disputed?

Much of the information on your credit report can be disputed if it is inaccurate or the result of fraud. You can dispute information on credit accounts, like credit cards, mortgages and auto loans, collections and bankruptcy records, among other accounts and information.

If you see an account you don’t know about, inaccuracies on accounts you know you’ve paid in full or old accounts that shouldn’t be on your report anymore, you can dispute those items. Some inaccuracies could be mistakes. For example, perhaps an account of a relative with a similar name, but with junior or senior, is showing on your report. Others could be more nefarious, like identity theft. No matter the inaccuracy, it’s important that your report is a true reflection of your credit history.

Personal information can and should be updated as well. It’s important for lenders to have access to your current information. On the TransUnion online dispute center site, you can remove previous name ("AKA"), previous address, employer and telephone number information. You can also select a "previous" address to be listed as your current address. If you need to add new contact information or make updates to existing personal information such as a name, address, employer, date of birth, Social Security number or address, you’ll need to send us supporting documents by mail.

If you see an inquiry on your report from a company you don't recognize and you believe they requested your credit report information without a permissible purpose, it's a good idea to reach out to the company to find out more details. If they determine that someone fraudulently applied for credit in your name, they can close that account and send us a letter requesting removal of the inquiry. You can also contact us directly by phone and you may want to add a fraud alert to your credit file.

Not everything related to your credit report can be disputed. For example, you can’t dispute your credit score. Your score is calculated based on some of the information in your report. If your score changed and you’re not sure why, you should review your credit report carefully to understand.

Do credit report disputes impact your credit score?

The act of submitting a credit report dispute does not have a direct impact on your credit score. However, if an item is changed or removed from your credit report that relates to one of the credit score factors, you may see a change in your score. How much your credit score changes depends on what type of information is changed, the credit scoring model used, and your personal credit history. You can read more about scores in our blog What Is a Credit Score?

Guide to disputing your credit report

Disputing your credit report is something you can do on your own – you don’t need to pay a person or service to dispute for you. Here are steps to take to dispute items on your TransUnion credit report online:

Contact your lenders

If there is something specific to one of your accounts that you don’t understand or looks wrong, it may be easier and faster to reach out to your lenders directly. You can find their contact information on your credit report. Lenders will have more details about the status of things like credit card balances and recent payments. They may be able to provide answers and resolve certain concerns quickly. If you’re unsure if account information on your report is inaccurate or if an account balance just hasn’t been updated yet, your lender may be able to help you. Any updates they make will be sent to us to add and/or change on your credit file.

Gather supporting documents

As an optional step, you can provide documents to support your dispute. To help make your dispute more efficient, it may help to gather documents in advance. Examples include court or lender documents that provide specific evidence to prove your claims. You can upload up to five documents for an online dispute and they should be JPG, JPEG, PDF or TIFF file types.

Currently, we don’t support document uploads for online public record disputes, or for updates to personal information like your Social Security number, date of birth, name or address. If you need to add or update personal information on your report, you will need to dispute by mail.

Dispute your credit report

If you’ve spotted and confirmed an inaccuracy, you can start a dispute request with the credit reporting agency. TransUnion offers a free online credit dispute service that is the quickest and easiest way to get started. We also have an extensive online FAQ section there to answer your dispute-related questions.

If the inaccuracy is the result of fraud, TransUnion can block the fraudulent information from your credit report. To do so, you will need to report the fraud and get an identity theft report from the Federal Trade Commission or a law enforcement agency. When submitting a dispute online, attach your identity theft report as a supporting document. When disputing by mail, include your identity theft report, a letter that identifies the fraudulent information on your credit report, and proof of your identity, TransUnion can block fraudulent information from your credit report. If acceptable, TransUnion will block the applicable items within 4-business days of receipt.

Steps to dispute:

  1. Set up a free TransUnion Service Center account if you don’t already have one. This way you can log in later to check your dispute status or view your investigation results. If you’ve requested an online dispute, freeze, or fraud alert recently with TransUnion, you may already have a username and password you can use. If you’ve forgotten your username or password, the login page’s “Login Help” link will allow you to recover your account information.
  2. Once your account is set up or you’ve logged in, use the site navigation to access the Dispute tab and click “Start Request.” You can then choose the first item you want to dispute. When selecting an item to dispute, you’ll be taken to a new screen which will provide options for why you are disputing that item.
  3. If you select an account to dispute, after you provide details about that dispute, you’ll have the option to upload relevant supporting documents.  If you have an identity theft report, make sure to upload it on this step. When you upload a document, there is a box you can check to note that your document relates to fraud.
  4. You can dispute multiple pieces of information on your credit report in the same dispute request. To include more items in your dispute or select items from other sections of your report, select “Add Another Item” to return to the full credit report. Select another item you wish to dispute and repeat the process as many times as you need before you finally submit your request. When you’ve added all the items you need to your dispute request, submit it and we’ll take it from there.
  5. If we can’t resolve your dispute based on what you submitted, we’ll notify your relevant lenders. They will verify the information as correct, change or delete the item and notify us. Any changes made by the lender can then be reflected on your credit report.

Review your investigation results

You can see your active and previous disputes in the online dispute center. When our investigation is complete, we’ll send you an email to let you know, or we'll send your dispute results to you directly via postal mail. If you receive an email saying your investigation is complete, log in to review your results and updated credit report. Most dispute investigations at TransUnion are complete within two weeks, but some may take up to 30 days.

If you don’t agree with the results, it may be a good idea to contact the lender directly and provide any documentation you have to support your claim. If the lender denies your claim, it must still report to the credit agency that the information is disputed. If the lender confirms your claim, it has to tell the credit reporting agency to update or delete the item.

We don’t want an inaccuracy on your credit report to negatively impact your score and keep you from the credit opportunities you deserve. By consistently monitoring your data identity, you can help ensure your credit report shows an accurate and up-to-date picture of your credit health.

Disclaimer: The information posted to this blog was accurate at the time it was initially published. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The information contained in the TransUnion blog is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. You should consult your own attorney or financial adviser regarding your particular situation. This site is governed by the TransUnion Interactive privacy policy located here.

What You Need to Know:

The credit scores provided are based on the VantageScore® 3.0 model. Lenders use a variety of credit scores and are likely to use a credit score different from VantageScore® 3.0 to assess your creditworthiness.

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