Disputing a credit report error is free, you can do it yourself in twenty minutes, and the bureau is legally required to investigate. This page provides the two letters that cover nearly every situation — copy the template, fill in the brackets, and send it. A credit repair company is not required for this step; such companies send substantially the same letter and charge a monthly fee for it.
First: dispute errors, not history
Disputes fix inaccurate information: accounts that aren’t yours, payments marked late that were on time, balances that are wrong, accounts still showing open after closure, one debt listed twice. Disputing accurate negatives (“this collection is real but I’d like it gone”) is generally unproductive, and submitting boilerplate disputes against every item on a report is the practice that leads bureaus to flag disputes as frivolous. If your reports are accurate but bad, the fix is building positive history; start with how to use a secured card to build credit.
Template 1: dispute with the credit bureau
The bureau letter is for errors that appear on a credit bureau’s report. Send it to each bureau showing the error.
[Your full name] [Your address] [Your phone number] [Date] [Bureau name and dispute address — see "Where to send" below] Re: Dispute of inaccurate information — [Your name], [Last 4 of SSN if requested by the bureau] To whom it may concern: I am disputing the following item(s) on my credit report as inaccurate: Item: [Creditor name and account number as shown on the report] Reported as: [What the report says — e.g., "30 days late, March 2026"] Why it is inaccurate: [Plain statement — e.g., "This payment was made on time on March 3, 2026. My bank statement showing the payment is enclosed."] Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I request that you investigate this item and correct or delete the inaccurate information. Enclosed: a copy of the relevant section of my credit report with the disputed item circled, and copies (not originals) of documents supporting this dispute. Please send me written confirmation of the outcome of your investigation. Signature, [Your name]
Template 2: dispute with the furnisher
The furnisher is the company that reported the information — the card issuer, lender, or collection agency. Disputing with them directly (in addition to the bureau) addresses the error at its source. Same structure: identify the account, state exactly what’s wrong, enclose proof, request correction, keep it to one page.
[Your full name / address / phone / date] [Furnisher name, attention: credit reporting disputes — address from your statement or their site] Re: Account [number] — dispute of information furnished to credit bureaus To whom it may concern: You are reporting the following about my account to one or more consumer credit bureaus, and it is inaccurate: Reported as: [what's being reported] The accurate information is: [what it should say] Supporting documents enclosed: [list them] Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I request that you investigate, correct the information you furnish to all bureaus you report to, and confirm the correction to me in writing. Signature, [Your name]
What to include (the checklist the CFPB uses)
- Your complete name, address, and phone number
- Each error, with the account number, and a clear explanation of why it’s wrong
- A copy of the report section showing the item (circle it)
- Copies (never originals) of supporting documents
- Send mail with tracking, and keep a copy of everything
Where to send it
All three bureaus accept disputes online, by phone, or by mail. Per the CFPB’s current listings:
- Equifax: online at equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/ · (866) 349-5191 · current mailing address listed at equifax.com/personal/contact-us/
- Experian: online at experian.com/disputes/main.html · (888) 397-3742 · mailing instructions on the dispute site
- TransUnion: online at dispute.transunion.com · (800) 916-8800 · mailing instructions at transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit/mail-or-phone
We deliberately point you to each bureau’s own page for mailing addresses rather than printing addresses that may go out of date. Mail preserves the best paper trail; online is fastest.
What happens next
The bureau must investigate (generally within 30 days of receiving your dispute, per the CFPB), contact the furnisher, and send you written results. If the furnisher can’t verify the item, it must be corrected or deleted. If the dispute comes back “verified” and you still have proof it’s wrong, escalate: dispute with the furnisher directly (Template 2), and file a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint; CFPB complaints get tracked responses.
Sources: CFPB, “How do I dispute an error on my credit report?” (consumerfinance.gov), verified August 25, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do dispute letters really work?
For genuine errors, yes — that’s the process working as designed under the FCRA, and it’s free. For accurate negative marks, no letter forces removal, regardless of what a credit repair advertisement promises. Our upcoming comparison of DIY vs. hiring covers when paying for help makes sense.
How long does a credit dispute take?
Bureaus generally must investigate within 30 days of receiving the dispute and send written results after.
Will disputing something hurt my credit score?
No. Filing a dispute is not reported as a negative event and causes no inquiry. The only score change comes from the outcome — an error corrected in your favor.