When you spot an error on your credit report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says to start by disputing it in writing. A good letter names the error, explains why it is wrong, and comes with proof. Keeping a record that you sent it is worth the extra step.

"Explain in writing what you think is wrong and why, and include copies of documents that support the dispute." (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
A stack of white paper and a sealed envelope on a wooden table.
A stack of paper and a sealed envelope on a wooden table. Copy every page before it goes in the mail.

Why a dispute letter matters

You have the right to dispute errors on your credit report. A written letter gives you a dated record of what you said was wrong. That record can help if you later need to show what you sent and when.

Fixing an error generally means contacting two parties. The first is the credit reporting company that holds your file. The second is the furnisher, the company that supplied the information. Correcting the error with one may not settle it with the other.

Before you write, find the exact section of your report with the problem. A letter that names one account and one error is easier to act on than a general complaint about the whole file.

What a mailed dispute letter should include

The CFPB lists what a mailed dispute letter should contain. Work through each point before you seal the envelope.

  • Your full name, address, and telephone number.
  • The credit report confirmation number, if you have one.
  • Each error you want fixed, with the account number for any disputed account.
  • A clear explanation of why you dispute it.
  • A request that the information be removed or corrected.

Attach a copy of the part of your report that shows the disputed items, and circle or highlight them. Add copies of documents that support your position, such as a bank statement or a letter from a creditor. Send copies, not originals. Keep the originals at home in a safe place.

Be specific in the explanation. "This account is not mine" is a clear statement. "My report is wrong" is not. If you list more than one error, number them so each one can be checked against your reply later.

Sending the letter and keeping records

The CFPB says you can send a dispute by certified mail with a return receipt. That gives you a record that the letter was received. Treat it as a useful option. The sources do not describe it as a requirement.

Keep one folder for the whole dispute. Put in the letter, the attachments, and any mailing receipt. Write down the date you sent each letter and who it went to. If you make calls, note the date and what was said.

If you dispute the same error with more than one credit reporting company, keep a separate set of notes for each. One may correct the item while another does not, and separate notes make that easier to see.

Disputing with the furnisher too

The CFPB publishes two sample letters. One is for a credit reporting company. The other is for a furnisher. Because you may need to send a letter to each, the samples are a sensible starting point before you write your own version.

Look at the CFPB sample letter page and the furnisher sample letter PDF before you write to a furnisher. The text of the furnisher sample was not readable in the material used for this article, so read it yourself. Do not assume it asks for the same details as the mailed letter described above.

When identity theft may be involved

A standard dispute addresses wrong information. If an error may come from identity theft, the CFPB points to IdentityTheft.gov as the federal resource for reporting and recovering from it. You might use that route instead of a standard dispute, or alongside one. If you are unsure which fits, read the official guidance before you mail anything.

After the letter goes out

Mailing the letter is not the last step. A few habits help while you wait.

  1. File the return receipt, if you have one, with your copy of the letter.
  2. Log any reply by date, and keep the envelope or message it came in.
  3. Compare the response against your numbered list to see whether each error was addressed.
  4. If a company does not fix an error, consider filing a CFPB complaint.

The CFPB accepts complaints about credit reporting and says it will work to get you a response from the company. That is the one next step the sources spell out for a dispute that goes nowhere. If an error is still on your report, a follow-up letter that repeats your documents is a reasonable move, though the sources do not say it is required.

Some answers are not in the sources used here. They do not say how long a company has to investigate, what happens after an investigation, or whether a dispute affects your credit score. Check the CFPB pages for current details. The CFPB page also states that it is not legal advice.

Please seek a professional. This article is general information, not financial, tax or insurance advice. Please seek a licensed financial, tax or insurance professional about your own situation.