How to Remove Errors on Your Credit Report

Consumers understand that lenders such as banks and credit card companies need to review their credit reports before making a lending decision. What some consumers do not realize, however, is that employers, insurance companies and landlords also routinely base decisions on the contents of an applicant's credit. If your credit report contains errors that lower your score, you could find yourself passed over for a job you're well-qualified for or paying higher insurance rates than you deserve. To ensure that each consumer possesses an accurate credit record, the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the ability to contest any information on your credit report that is either inaccurate or that you do not recognize.

Instructions

1

Obtain each of your credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. If you have not requested your free credit report for the year, you can do so at the Annual Credit Report website. Print two copies of each credit bureau's report.

2

Examine your credit reports line by line for errors. Mistakes you may find on your credit report include: late payments, accounts that do not belong to you, incorrect addresses and obsolete items.

3

Write dispute letters to Equifax and TransUnion explaining any mistakes you found within your credit reports. You can dispute numerous errors in the same letter.

4

Mail each letter along with a copy of each respective credit bureau's report that reflects the error to:

Equifax

P.O. Box 740241

Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion

P.O. Box 1000

Chester, PA 19022

Experian

P.O. Box 2104

Allen, TX 75013

After receiving your dispute, federal law requires that the credit bureaus investigate the disputed information by contacting the original information provider and requesting verification of the data. If the information provider cannot verify that the disputed entry is correct, the credit bureaus will remove it from your credit record.