Dispute errors on your credit report
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)(A)
In plain words
If your credit report has something wrong or incomplete — like a payment reported late that you made on time — you can dispute it with the credit bureau for free. The bureau must investigate, usually within 30 days, and fix or delete information it cannot verify.
Who is protected
Any consumer with information in a consumer reporting agency's file.
When it applies
It has no special conditions: it protects everyone it names.
Check whether it applies to youWhat you can do
Send a credit-report dispute
Explain exactly which item is wrong and why, attach proof, and send it to each credit bureau that shows the error.
Deadline: The bureau usually has 30 days (up to 45 if you send more information during that time).
Open the toolOpen the Credit Health tool
Upload your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. The tool lists items you may want to check and explains your options. You decide what, if anything, to dispute.
Open the toolSend a dispute letter to the credit bureau
Name each item you believe is wrong, say why in your own words, and attach proof you have. Send by certified mail and keep copies. Dispute only what you honestly believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
Deadline: Follow up if you have no results after 30 days (45 after a free annual report).
Open the tool
Honest limits
- Accurate negative information, like real late payments, can stay on your report (usually up to 7 years).
- A bureau may dismiss a dispute it reasonably finds frivolous or irrelevant, but it must tell you.
- This is general legal information, not legal advice, and it does not promise any result. A HUD-approved housing counselor or a lawyer can look at your facts.
- Accurate, current information does not have to be removed.
- Repeating the same dispute without new information can be rejected as frivolous.
- This is general information, not legal advice. It does not promise any result.
The law
- Federal lawFCRA — reinvestigation of disputed information
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)(A)
Exact part: (a)(1)(A)
What it says: The credit bureau must conduct a free, reasonable reinvestigation and correct or delete the item within 30 days of receiving the dispute.
Read the official texthttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i&num=0&edition=prelim - Federal lawFCRA — reinvestigation of disputed information
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)(a)(1)(A)–(B)
Exact part: (a)(1)(A)–(B)
What it says: Free reasonable reinvestigation within 30 days; up to 15 more days if you add relevant information.
Read the official texthttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i&num=0&edition=prelim - Federal lawFCRA — frivolous disputes, deletion, notice of results
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(3), (5), (6)
What it says: Frivolous-dispute notice; delete or modify inaccurate or unverifiable items; written results within 5 business days.
Read the official texthttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i&num=0&edition=prelim - Federal lawFCRA — 45 days after a free annual report
15 U.S.C. § 1681j(a)(3)
What it says: A dispute made after receiving a free annual report must be finished within 45 days.
Read the official texthttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681j&num=0&edition=prelim
Court cases
- Homeowner wonSame topicRenfroe v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC
Renfroe v. Nationstar Mortg., LLC, 822 F.3d 1241 (11th Cir. 2016)
a servicer that answers a borrower's written request without a reasonable investigation may be liable under RESPA when the borrower alleges resulting damages
- Homeowner wonSame topicJesinoski v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
Jesinoski v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 574 U.S. 259 (2015)
a borrower exercises the Truth in Lending right to rescind by notifying the lender in writing within three years, without needing to sue within that period
- Homeowner wonSame topicMarais v. Chase Home Finance LLC
Marais v. Chase Home Fin. LLC, 736 F.3d 711 (6th Cir. 2013)
a borrower who alleges actual damages, such as added interest, caused by a servicer's deficient response to a qualified written request states a RESPA claim
- Homeowner lostSame topicLage v. Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC
Lage v. Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, 839 F.3d 1003 (11th Cir. 2016)
a servicer's duty to evaluate a loss-mitigation application depends on its being submitted more than 37 days before the sale date scheduled at that time
- Homeowner lostSame topicGresham v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Gresham v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 642 F. App'x 355 (5th Cir. 2016) (per curiam) (unpublished)
the federal dual-tracking bar applies only when the servicer receives a complete loss-mitigation application more than 37 days before the foreclosure sale
- Homeowner lostSame topicWhittier v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, L.L.C.
Whittier v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, L.L.C., 594 F. App'x 833 (5th Cir. 2014) (per curiam) (unpublished)
a RESPA claim against a servicer fails without evidence of actual damages caused by the violation
Related rights
Make the company that reported the error investigate it
15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b)(1)
The company that reported the information — such as your servicer — must investigate when a credit bureau passes along your dispute, and fix what is wrong with every bureau. In many cases you can also dispute directly with that company, which must then investigate and report back to you.
Read this rightMake your servicer fix mistakes (notice of error)
12 C.F.R. § 1024.35(a)
If your mortgage servicer made a mistake — like not crediting a payment, charging a wrong fee, or giving a wrong payoff amount — you can send a written "notice of error." The servicer must confirm it got your letter within 5 business days. It then has to fix the error or explain in writing, after a reasonable investigation, why it thinks there was no error, usually within 30 business days.
Read this rightFree credit reports from the three national bureaus
15 U.S.C. § 1681j(a)(1)(a)(1)(A)–(B)
By law, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion must each give you a free copy of your file once every 12 months when you ask through the official central source, AnnualCreditReport.com. The three bureaus have also made free weekly reports permanent on that site. Other sites may charge you or be scams.
Read this rightBlock information that resulted from identity theft
15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2(a)
If identity theft put accounts or debts on your report, the credit bureau must block that information within 4 business days after you send proof of identity, a copy of an identity theft report, the items to block, and a statement that they are not yours. The bureau must tell the furnisher. It can refuse or undo a block only in limited cases, such as error or misrepresentation.
Read this rightCancel a credit repair contract within 3 business days
15 U.S.C. § 1679e
You can cancel any credit repair contract, for any reason and without penalty, until midnight of the third business day after you sign it. The company must give you a "Notice of Cancellation" form in duplicate and may not start work during those 3 days. Some states give you 5 days.
Read this rightA credit repair company cannot charge you before the work is done
15 U.S.C. § 1679b(b)
Federal law bans credit repair companies from charging or taking any money for a service before that service is fully performed. A company that bills you up front, charges a "setup" or "first work" fee, or charges a monthly fee for work it has not done yet is breaking the law.
Read this right