If your credit report is not accurate, you have rights.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act

Your credit report contains information about where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit reporting agencies— Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion —to provide you with a free annual credit report. You can request your report here. It is important to review your credit report because inaccurate information could affect your ability borrow money and the amount you will pay for a loan. Inaccurate information on your credit report could also affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job. If you are the victim of identity theft, checking your credit report will make you aware of any accounts that have been fraudulently opened in your name.

If you notice any mistakes, alert the credit bureau in writing immediately so that they can be corrected.

Practical Steps

First, find out whether the inaccurate information is on all of your reports or just some. Do so by requesting your free annual report copies.

Now that you have all of your credit reports in hard copy, highlight every incorrect piece of information.

Write a dispute for each one that contains inaccuracies and send back to the relevant credit reporting agency and the information provider. Keep a copy of that letter and send everything certified mail with a return receipt request for your keepings. (The three credit reporting bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion)

Helpful Links

Request Your Free Annual Credit Report

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors