How To: Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report

credit report disputeIt’s not unusual for an item on an individuals credit report to be incorrect. Getting this information changed and updated can be a hassle, but is well worth doing as it may be effecting how eligible you are for new credit and the current rate of interest you’re being offered. Which is why we’ve put together this handy how to guide.

Remember, you’re allowed access to your credit report for free every twelve months from each of the consumer reporting agencies.

We recommend contacting both the creditor (the company that has reported the incorrect information) and the consumer reporting agencies (one of the three companies [Equifax, TransUnion & Experian] that maintains credit reports) that show this incorrect or inaccurate information.

Consumer reporting agencies have a period of thirty days to respond to these complaints (please note: if you requested a free copy of your credit report through FACTA then these agencies have a period of fourty-five days to respond).

Credit Report Disputes Online

All three of the consumer reporting agencies now have online facilities that allow consumers to dispute negative credit items online. Use the following websites to start the dispute process. You’ll need a copy of your credit report, along with any supporting evidence which proves that the negative item is incorrect or inaccurate.

Credit Report Disputes Via Phone

It’s best to use the phone numbers found on your individual credit reports as these will be the most up to date numbers, as the consumer reporting agencies regularly change these numbers.

  • Equifax: (800) 864-2978
  • TransUnion: 800-916-8800
  • Experian: (888) 397-3742

Credit Ceport Disputres Via Mail

To do so an individual must send a letter of dispute along with supporting evidence. It’s then up to the creditor that provided this information to prove it’s correct within 30 (45 if the incorrect information was found via a free credit report) days of being notified.

Both Equifax & TransUnion require you to complete their forms and mail it in.

Equifax form can be found here here and TransUnion here.

Sample Credit Bureau Dispute Letter

Below we’ve provided a sample of what a dispute letter should look like.  It’s also a good idea for the individual to include any supporting information they have (such as a receipt for a credit item that is marked as unpaid), this will help to speed up the process. You’ll need to replace the information found in [ ] brackets with your own.

[Date]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]

[Complaint Department]
[Name of Credit Bureau]
[Address][City, State, Zip Code]

 

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item [identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.] is [inaccurate or incomplete] because [describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why]. I am requesting that the item [be deleted or request another specific change] to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please reinvestigate [this/these] matter(s) and [delete or correct] the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)]

Credit Bureau Addresses

Equifax:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion:

TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000,
Chester, PA 19022-2000

Experian: 

Experian
P.O. Box 4000
Allen, TX 75013

Unhappy With The Result?

If you are unhappy with the result of the credit bureaus investigation, then you can file a complaint with consumer finance. To do so:

  1. Visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
  2. Click “Credit Reports”
  3. Complete then submit the online form

You can also contact the FTC or your local legal Representative.

Successfully had items removed?

If you’ve succesfully had negative items removed from your report it’s worth asking your current creditors if they can reduce your interest rates on loans. This is because you may have previously been in a different risk category and are now less risky due to this incorrect information being removed.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

17 Comments
newest
oldest most voted

Jerry eikum
Jerry eikum (@guest_1638855)
June 21, 2023 03:32

will like to share my experience I had with this debtor and how I was saved by a credit genius. I was in a good job but then became sick so had to give up work, am not on any benefits or wages and have been off for more than 2 years any saving have long gone , my debt has rocketed to $130000 (130k) due to interest and charges ( one card I was paying $140 interest, I missed the payment and they put the interest up to $710 per month, The figure of the debt keep accumulating I taught all had ended but with the help of a close friend who informed me about this credit expert with many years of experience Michael lex who I email on michlex114 at gmailcom He collected few of my details and promised me he will do a great job on my credit, it looked weird to me at first but he did an incredible job on my credit. All debt are marked as paid, late payment appear as on time payment, increase my credit score to excellent which I confirm on 3 credit bureaus. I’m so excited right now as my credit lines has meet up my financial and potential needs

slaven
slaven (@guest_1590409)
April 2, 2023 21:50

can u dispute when a bank does a double hard pull after applying for one of their cc? chase and Barclays have started to do, with inquiries separated by days.

BlissfulApathy
BlissfulApathy (@guest_1071350)
October 11, 2020 04:47

Old post but I strongly recommend only disputing via snail mail. I once disputed online with Equifax and all they did was “acknowledge” my dispute….but literally changed nothing.

I think the online dispute forms are just there to screw with consumers and hopefully get people to ragequit (never getting around to mail dispute). What do you think  William Charles ?

sg77
sg77 (@guest_1071403)
October 11, 2020 12:28

After you did the online dispute, did you then submit the same dispute via snail mail and get a different result?

BlissfulApathy
BlissfulApathy (@guest_1071630)
October 12, 2020 04:42

sg77 Nah, I only saw the erroneous hp in March, and by that time I couldn’t justify going to the post office to send certified letter because pandemic. It was on Equifax anyway, so it’s nbd now.

Poker pro
Poker pro (@guest_379078)
March 29, 2017 04:16

I had tax filed for money i did not owe. I had them removed from trans and exp very easily. Equifax on the other hand refused to delete it through multiple disputes despite providing a letter from the dept of revenue stating i never owed the money… I filed a complaint with the cfpb, but they basically just collect data to find which companies make multiple offenses and couldn’t really help. I have an open complaint with the bbb but fear that will not help either. How can i get the liens with false information removed?

ZiggyZ
ZiggyZ (@guest_535369)
December 14, 2017 15:55

Check with the US Treasury. They are one of the main branches in the US Gov’t that deal specifically with money coming in/out. When you pay the IRS, it goes to the US Treasury.

Check with them to see i they’re able to find something.

Kc
Kc (@guest_566930)
March 5, 2018 17:13

File a law suit against them!

Tatiana
Tatiana (@guest_569329)
March 12, 2018 21:41
  Kc

Yep, sue them and you will win plus they might pay you just so you shut up.

ColinC
ColinC (@guest_23931)
August 18, 2014 16:39

This article was very useful. I had a bank do a hard pull when they told me they were going to check if I pre-qualified. The bank agreed to remove the inquiry but never did and I disputed that with Experian. Experian, however refused to remove the inquiry with the reason that the bank had “permissible purpose”. Filing a complaint with the CFPB with the bank manager’s promise was enough to make them remove it.

lesley rhode
lesley rhode (@guest_636830)
August 30, 2018 00:28

I had a situation where my former landlord put all these charges on my credit saying I damaged the apartment and I left early, none of which is true. I was exploring the lawsuit option but in the meantime, I was not able to rent an apartment because of this and it destroyed my life. I didn’t feel I had to pay for something I did not do. they can neither validate nor show any proof of damages. I was informed a ethical hacker helps people in cleaning credit which I am so happy about. I tendered my problems to them and they removed all damaging info on my credit. It took them a couple of days to get my credit cleaned and it’s such an amazing feeling to be finally free from all that problems I had. THIS IS CREDIT REPAIR SERVICE AT ITS BEST(contact details: youdoneedgreatcredit @gmail.com).

Alex Morris
Alex Morris (@guest_762914)
May 25, 2019 12:12

Since I reached adult hood my credit has been poor due to having a serious medical condition and being raised in a struggling family without proper medical insurance. Even though I’ve worked hard my whole life I could never get a handle on my credit situation and never had the opportunity to prove my credit worthiness. Desperate to have good credit I’ve been taken by scams promising to clean my credit up and after thousands of dollars I never see change.Reluctantly I made a reach to youdoneedcredit {at} g-m-a-i-l {dot} com to help me as i had no other option with their promise to clean my credit up and they did just that! In just a couple of days they proved they stand by their word! I wish i found them earlier. They are professionals and are relentless to get things straightened out. I highly recommend them to anyone who does not have the time or wherewithal to stay with a very tedious process.

Delan Milner
Delan Milner (@guest_807349)
September 7, 2019 20:50

“You Do Need Great Credit” worked very diligently on my behalf to help me improve my credit. Their service is phenomenal, determined by results reflected on currently updated profile.I would highly recommend their service to anyone that I know, and I’m sharing this for others out there that needs credit help so you don’t give up on credit repair. My only regret is not utilizing their service earlier…but its better late than never.