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5 Ways to Correct Errors on Your Credit Report
Categories: Credit Smarts Debt Management
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Attempting to correct credit report errors is like the carnival game called whack-a-mole. No matter how hard you try, the error pops up again and again.
So here are some tips to help you handle the dispute:
- Start your dispute directly with the credit bureau, not the creditor.
- Contact the creditor in writing with the disputed information and a letter.
- Maintain all records of your dispute, and when sending mail, send it "return receipt requested."
- Take notes of any telephone conversations you have and make note of the other party's name, date and time of day. If you file online, print out everything and save your records.
- Be patient. Resolving disputes can take months, especially if your report contains multiple errors.
Lastly, if after all this you don't have a resolution, hire a lawyer. Credit errors cost higher rates when you need to borrow.
Explore Dolans.com
June 11, 2010 11:21 AM
If you don't recognize a company listed on your report, try calling the credit reporting company before writing.
I've checked my credit reports since the first year they were available and always had excellent credit scores. However, that first year, the Transunion report listed several companies I'd never heard of. These companies did not show up on my other reports. (I spread the three reports across the year and Transunion happened to be the third.)
I telephoned Transunion and advised them of the specific companies that I'd never heard of, and said that if they had changed their names since the last date they claimed I paid off (all were paid on time and paid off) I'd like to know who they had been. One name I recognized, and knew I'd never had an account with them.
Two weeks after my phone call, I received a new credit report in the mail. All the companies brought up had been removed from this new report, and have never shown up again.
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