How to Remove Accounts From a Credit Check

There are few options for preventing certain accounts from being visible during a check of your credit. Generally, you would want only negative information removed from your credit report, although some people might also want to hide accounts showing the full scope of their personal debt. However, there are no provisions under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for arbitrarily removing items from credit reports. Credit information that is positive can remain on your report indefinitely, while most negative information can be reported for at least seven years -- 10 years for bankruptcies. Federal law does allow for the removal of account information that is wrong or outdated.

Instructions

1

Obtain a copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com. The website is the only site authorized by the federal government to offer free reports under the terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Visit the website to view and print your report.

2

Review the report to find accounts that are outdated or contain inaccurate information. These accounts can be challenged and removed before your credit check.

3

Write a letter to the credit bureau at its address on the credit report. In your letter, ask that the inaccurate or outdated information be removed because it is in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Include your name, address and Social Security number. Allow about 30 days for a response while the credit bureau investigates. By law the credit bureau must remove the information if it confirms that it is inaccurate or outdated.

4

Dispute inaccurate or outdated information online if you would prefer not to write a letter. Major credit bureaus TransUnion, Equifax and Experian allow for disputes to be entered through their websites. Enter your dispute online by navigating to the credit bureau's website (see Resources). Equifax and TransUnion also accept disputes by telephone. After obtaining your credit report, call the customer service number on the report to speak to a representative to submit your dispute. In December 2010, Experian's website did not list a customer service number or option for disputing by telephone.