If you find something wrong on your credit report, such as an account that isn't yours, a payment marked late that wasn't, or a debt that should have dropped off, you can dispute it directly with the credit bureau for free. The bureau will check with the lender that reported it, and correct or remove the information if it can't be verified.
The process in brief
- Get your reports from both bureaus
- Gather proof: statements, letters, payment confirmations
- File a dispute with each bureau showing the error
- Contact the lender too, if the error came from them
- Follow up, and escalate if it isn't resolved
Common errors
- Accounts that belong to someone else with a similar name
- Payments reported late when they were on time
- Closed accounts shown as open, or paid debts shown as unpaid
- Wrong credit limits, which inflate your utilization
- Negative items older than the normal retention period
- The same debt listed twice, by the lender and by a collector
- Hard inquiries you didn't authorize, a possible sign of fraud
Filing the dispute
Both Equifax and TransUnion accept disputes online, by phone and by mail. Each bureau keeps its own file, so if an error appears on both reports, dispute it with both.
- Be specific. Identify the exact account, what's wrong, and what it should say.
- Attach evidence. Statements, payment receipts, letters confirming an account was closed, or a police report for fraud.
- Keep records. Note the date, the reference number, and who you spoke with.
Contact the lender too
The bureau only reports what lenders send it. If a lender keeps reporting the wrong information, the error can reappear. Contact the lender's customer service, then its internal complaints office if needed, and ask it to correct what it reports to both bureaus.
After the investigation
The bureau will tell you the outcome. If the information is corrected, ask for an updated copy of your report. If the bureau confirms the information as reported and you still disagree, you can:
- Add a consumer statement to your file explaining your side
- Escalate a complaint about a federally regulated lender, such as a bank, through its complaints process and then its external complaints body
- Contact the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, or your provincial consumer protection office, for guidance
If it's identity theft
Contact both bureaus to report the fraud and ask for a fraud alert on your file, which tells lenders to verify your identity before granting credit. Report it to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and contact the lenders involved.
You don't need to pay anyone. Disputing errors with the bureaus is free. Companies charging to "repair" your credit can't do anything you can't do yourself, and can't remove accurate information.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost money to dispute a credit report error?
No. Both Equifax and TransUnion handle disputes for free.
How long does a credit report dispute take?
It varies, but investigations typically take a few weeks while the bureau contacts the lender.
Will disputing an item hurt my credit score?
No. Filing a dispute doesn't affect your score. Correcting an error can help it.
Sources
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Fixing errors on your credit report
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Report fraud