Credit Report Errors - How to Get Rid of Them

Eliminate credit report errors, find out what the bureaus have to do and how you can make them do it.

You have the right, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,

to dispute the completeness and accuracy of information in your credit file.

Dispute the Error

When a credit reporting agency receives a dispute, it must reinvestigate and record the current status of the disputed items within a "reasonable period of time," unless it believes the dispute is "frivolous or irrelevant."

If the credit reporting agency cannot verify a disputed item, it must delete it. If your report contains erroneous information, the credit reporting agency must correct it. If an item is incomplete, the credit reporting agency must complete it.

For example, if your file shows that you were late in making payments on accounts, but fails to show that you are no longer delinquent, the credit reporting agency must show that your payments are now current. If your file shows an account that belongs to another person, the credit reporting agency would have to delete it. Also, at your request, the credit reporting agency must send a notice of correction to any report recipient who has checked your file in the past six months.

Credit report errors are worth the efforts to get them off your report. It could raise your score and save you money on interest for either a home or auto loan.

Send a Brief Statement

For items in your credit profile which you feel deserve further explanation (such as an account that was paid late due to the loss of job, military call up, or unexpected medical bills), you can send a brief statement to the appropriate credit reporting agency. The information will be placed in your credit profile and will be disclosed each time it is accessed.

You don’t have to put up with credit report errors. Take the time to get them removed and improve your financial appearance.

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