Your credit report is an important tool when it comes to obtaining auto loans, mortgages, credit cards and even employment opportunities. A favorable credit report increases the odds that you will be able to obtain good interest rates and higher credit limits on credit accounts. If you notice duplicate accounts on your credit report, you can dispute them either through the mail or by using an online application at the credit reporting agency's website. The dispute procedure can usually be completed in just a few minutes.
Instructions
- 1
Obtain credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies and note whether they list any duplicate accounts. Consumers are allowed one free credit report every 12 months from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Your free reports can be obtained by visiting annualcreditreport.com (see Resources for link), the only website that is contracted through the federal government to deliver free credit reports to eligible consumers.
If you aren't eligible to receive your reports because you've already requested them in the last 12 months, you can purchase them. The price for each report is usually less than $10.
If you have been denied credit in the past 60 days, you can also request a free credit report from the agency that provided the credit report to the creditor that declined you. Refer to the credit denial letter to determine which credit reporting agency the creditor used to make the credit decision and for information on how to request the free report.
You may also request a report by calling the credit reporting agency directly. (See Step 2 for applicable phone numbers.)
2Mail a dispute letter to each credit reporting agency. The letter should include your name, address, phone number and information for all duplicate accounts that you would like to have removed from your credit report. Include the creditor's name, account number and account balance that is reflected on the credit report. State under each account that these accounts are in error because they are reflected more than once on your report.
In addition to the letter, you may include documentation that supports your dispute, such as letters from the creditor, copies of cleared checks, bank statements and credit card statements. These items can help the investigator who receives your dispute to resolve the duplicated items quickly and efficiently.
Credit reporting agency contact information is as follows:
Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
(800) 865-1111
www.equifax.com
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Springfield, PA 19022
(800) 888-4213
www.transunion.com
Experian
P.O. Box 2014
Allen, TX 75013
(888) 397-3742
www.experian.com
File a dispute with each credit reporting agency online. If you prefer, you can visit the credit reporting agency's website to file the dispute. This process is fast and simple and takes just a few minutes. Include the same account-identifying information as you would have with a letter of dispute (see Step 2), as well as the reasoning that the account(s) in question are invalid because they appear on your credit report multiple times.
Notate the confirmation number that you will receive after filing the online dispute. You can use it to check the status of your dispute as it is processed.
4Wait 30 to 45 days for your dispute to be processed and your duplicate accounts to be corrected and removed from your credit report.
For written dispute letters, the credit reporting agency will work to resolve your dispute within 30 days of receipt of your dispute letter and documentation, if applicable.
Disputes filed online can take up to 45 days to be processed by the credit reporting agency. You will be notified via email when your dispute has been processed.
If any changes were made to your credit report, the agency will include an updated copy of your credit report to reflect the changes that were made due to the dispute. This updated copy of your credit report will be delivered through the mail or via email, if you originally received your credit report(s) online.
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