How to Dispute Credit Report Errors

Mistakes on credit reports are more common than you might expect. If a payment is marked late when it wasn’t, or if your report lists an account that doesn’t belong to you, the discrepancy can affect how lenders view your credit profile. 

What do you do if you find a mistake? You dispute it, of course. 

Unfortunately, many consumers don’t know where to begin. There’s good news, though: Disputing a credit report error isn’t all that complicated. 

How to dispute credit errors

Before you can contest a mistake on your credit report, you need to know how to find it. There are three major credit bureaus that issue credit reports: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. An error might appear on one, two, or all three reports.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to check your credit reports (and how to dispute credit errors):

• Get copies of your credit reports by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com 
• Review all three reports for accuracy
• Identify any errors or incomplete information
• Gather documentation of these errors
• Submit your dispute to each credit bureau that reported an error
• Follow up if needed

After a credit bureau has completed its investigation, it will notify you of the outcome. If you win your dispute, the incorrect information will be updated or removed. 

Best apps for disputing credit errors

Learning how to dispute credit errors means taking advantage of tools like these.

Kikoff

Kikoff offers free dispute letter generation tools for all consumers. You don’t have to pay or subscribe. With Kikoff, you can:

• Create a dispute letter based on the type of error you discover
• File a dispute electronically with TransUnion
• Generate a letter to mail to Experian or Equifax

With Kikoff, you’ll have easy access to tools that help you dispute mistakes on your credit report. Kikoff also provides free debt negotiation services to eligible consumers and can help you build credit through payment reporting.

Other apps

You’ll find many more online apps and tools that help you monitor your credit and file disputes. Some of these solutions require paid subscriptions, while others are free. These tools can help you:

• Spot changes on your credit report
• Track dispute timelines
• Store supporting documents

Before you sign up, review what services the platform is offering and how much it costs. Some paid services are well worth the money, while others can be cost-prohibitive. 

What happens if there are errors on your credit report

Your credit report is used to calculate your credit score and to make lending decisions. 

If the report includes errors, your score may be inaccurate. A bank might refuse to grant you a mortgage, or a credit card provider might deny your application for a new card. Other potential consequences include:

• Increased interest rates when borrowing
• Difficulty finding work in certain careers
• Barriers when looking for rental housing
• Higher security deposits for utilities

You might be rebuilding your credit after a rough patch, which means that finding a mistake on your credit report can be very disheartening. Along with disputing the error, keep working on establishing a consistent, positive payment history to strengthen your credit profile. 

Conclusion

Now that you know how to dispute credit errors, it’s time to take action. Start by getting copies of your credit reports and identifying any erroneous information. From there, use Kikoff’s free dispute tools to generate letters and send them to the appropriate credit bureaus. 

At Kikoff, we offer several other great tools to help you build your credit. Our solutions include debt negotiation, rent reporting, and secured credit cards. 

There is a path forward after a financial rough patch. Dispute errors and get credit for the payments you’re already making with help from Kikoff.