The first step in removing errors from your credit report is to obtain current copies of credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies. There is a fee for ordering the reports direct from the agencies. The agencies and their contact information are at the bottom of this webpage.
You can also contact the Annual Credit Report Request Service at 877-322-8228. This service will provide one report from each service each year at no cost.
You need reports from all three agencies because one agency may have slightly different information from another agency, and you want to check all of the reported information.
Identify removable information.
Three types of information can be removed:
1. Completely wrong information. An example would be information on an account you never had. Despite using social security numbers, date of birth, and addresses for accurate individual identification, the agencies can still wind up with totally wrong information, such as an account for someone else with the same name you have. They must remove such information from your report.
2. Duplicate information. Sometimes duplicate submissions of the same information show up on your report. If the information is negative, it gives the appearance of more problems than you actually have. Such duplicates can be removed.
3. Outdated information. Most information can only be kept for seven years. This includes Chapter 13 Bankruptcies. Chapter 7 (liquidation) Bankruptcies can be kept for 10 years, and certain information including unpaid child support and student loans remains until paid. The agencies must remove outdated information when it is brought to their attention.
Ask the agency to remove improper information.
Once you find that your report contains incorrect, duplicate, or outdated information you need to notify the reporting agency of the improperly included information and specifically request that it be removed. You can notify the agency by telephone, mail, or email on their websites. The agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
You should used registered mail for all correspondence, and keep detailed records of everything you do – when and what you sent, who you talked to, with date and time, and copies of all emails.
Be sure to include copies of all documents (keep your originals) which support your claim that the information is mistaken, duplicative, or outdated. This might include cancelled checks, statements showing payments, releases of liens, and so forth.
The credit reporting agency has 30 days to investigate your dispute. They will contact the creditor, and he has to verify the information. If he does not show the information is accurate it should be removed from your report. The agency must send you a written report on its investigation and a new report if changes have been made.
If the credit bureau does not change the information, contact the creditor and go through the same steps, sending them copies of your documentation. If they still do not change the information reported to the credit reporting agency, you should write a 100 word (or less) statement explaining the situation and submit it to the credit reporting agency to include with your report. If you still are not satisfied you should contact an attorney.
Additional Information
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111
TransUnion
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064-0390
1-800-888-4213
Experian
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 949
Allen, TX 75013-0949
1-800-682-7654
Related posts:
- Credit Bureaus
- What Is Bad Credit?
- Staying Ahead of the Credit Curve
- Your Credit Score.
- Credit Reporting – Correcting Simple Credit Score Errors
FAQ: How do I check my Free Credit Report?
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