You have the right to dispute errors on your credit report. Fixing an error generally means contacting both the credit reporting company and the company that provided the information.
If you suspect that the error on your report is a result of identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov , the federal government’s one-stop resource to help you report and recover from identity theft.
Having bad credit can feel like you’re trapped in a maze with no way out. Creditors deny your applications, you can’t qualify for the best interest rates, and you worry your credit will never improve. It’s enough to make anyone feel hopeless.
But there is a way out if you know who to turn to for help With the right guidance, you can fix your credit and get your finances back on track In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through the key people and organizations you can talk to about improving your credit.
Credit Counselors
One of the best starting points is to speak with a non-profit credit counseling agency. Accredited credit counselors provide advice tailored to your specific situation. They can help you:
- Review your credit reports and identify errors or negative items dragging down your scores.
- Create a personalized budget to manage expenses and pay down debts.
- Negotiate with creditors for better repayment terms or reduced interest rates.
- Develop a concrete action plan for rebuilding credit.
Counseling is often free or affordable. Look for members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). These certified professionals must meet strict standards for ethical conduct.
Financial Advisors
A financial advisor looks at your whole financial picture, not just credit Advisors help with budgeting, saving, managing debt, and investing for the future
Though their services come at a cost, a good advisor’s guidance can be invaluable if you have complex finances. Ask potential advisors about their experience helping clients with credit improvement.
Credit Repair Companies
If your credit report contains errors, a credit repair company can dispute those on your behalf. However, beware of shady companies that overpromise or encourage lying on credit applications.
Stick with reputable companies like Lexington Law and Credit Saint that have a long track record of results Just don’t expect miracles – no one can legally remove negative marks if the information is accurate
Your Lenders and Creditors
Don’t be afraid to reach out to lenders and creditors directly for assistance. They want you to repay your debts and may agree to:
- Lower interest rates to reduce your monthly payments.
- Create temporary hardship repayment plans.
- Settle accounts for less than the full balance.
- Remove late payments if you get back on track.
The key is open and honest communication about your financial hardship. Creditors may be surprisingly willing to work with you.
Do-It-Yourself Education
With some time investment, you can self-educate to improve your credit. Excellent free resources include:
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FTC’s Fixing Your Credit FAQs – Covers disputing errors, avoiding scams, and legal rights.
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CFPB’s Credit Reporting Guide – tips for reading your credit report and disputing mistakes.
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Credit repair subreddits – Reddit users share success stories and DIY tips.
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Blogs and forums – NerdWallet, Credit Karma, and others provide helpful advice.
The knowledge you gain will empower you to fix your credit solo or seek help only when needed.
Helpful Tips to Know
As you work to improve your credit, keep these tips in mind:
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Check your credit reports frequently to catch errors early. You can obtain free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.
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Pay all bills on time going forward. This will have the most immediate positive impact.
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Keep credit card balances low. High debt usage drags down credit scores.
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Don’t close old credit cards as it lowers your total available credit.
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Hold off new credit applications until your credit improves. Too many inquiries also drop scores.
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Stay patient. Credit repair takes diligent effort over time, not overnight miracles.
The journey to great credit may feel long and difficult, but taking the right steps will get you there. With the help of credit experts and your own motivation, you can repair errors, reduce debts, and build the credit you deserve. If you ever feel lost navigating this maze, remember one of these resources can guide you in the right direction.
Then, dispute the information with the company that provided it to the credit reporting companies
Credit reporting companies gather information about you from other companies called furnishers. Examples of furnishers include your bank, your landlord, and your credit card company.
To dispute the information a furnisher provided to the credit reporting company, you can use our sample letter as a guide. Send disputes to furnishers in writing, using certified mail. Disputes can be sent to the furnisher’s address included on your consumer report or to an address specified by the furnisher for receiving credit reporting disputes. Furnishers generally must investigate and respond to your dispute within 30 days of when they receive the dispute.
If the investigation shows the furnisher provided wrong information about you, or the information cannot be verified, the furnisher must update or remove the information and notify all the credit reporting companies after correcting it. Then, the credit reporting companies must update your credit reports.
The furnisher might determine that the information about you is accurate and should not be updated or removed. In that case, you can contact the credit reporting companies again and ask them to include a statement explaining the dispute in your credit reports. The statement is then added to your file and provided to whomever requests your credit report in the future.
If you have a problem with your credit report, you can also submit a complaint with the CFPB.
How to dispute an error on your credit report
If you identify an error on your credit report, you should start by disputing that information with the credit reporting company (Experian, Equifax, and/or Transunion). You should explain in writing what you think is wrong, why, and include copies of documents that support your dispute. You can also use our instructions and template letter as a guide.
If you mail a dispute, your dispute letter should include:
- Contact information for you, including your complete name, address, and telephone number
- Credit report confirmation number, if available
- Each error you want fixed, including the account number for any account you may be disputing
- Clear explanation of why you are disputing the information
- Request that the information be removed or corrected
- A copy of the portion of your credit report that contains the disputed items, with the disputed items circled or highlighted
- Copies (not originals) of documents that support your position
You can choose to send your dispute letter by certified mail and ask for a return receipt, so that you have a record that your letter was received.
You can contact the nationwide credit reporting companies online, by mail, or by phone:
By phone or mail: Call the phone number shown on your credit report or call (866) 349-5191. Visit www.equifax.com/personal/contact-us/ to find the current address you can mail your dispute to.
Online or by mail: www.experian.com/disputes/main.html to dispute online or get instructions for how to dispute by mail.
By phone: Call the phone number shown on your credit report or call (888) 397-3742.
By mail or phone: Visit www.transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit/mail-or-phone for instructions on how to dispute by mail or phone, or call (800) 916-8800, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. 11 p.m. ET, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET to dispute over the phone.
Keep copies of your dispute letter and the documents you send with it.
The credit reporting company you sent the dispute letter to must investigate your dispute, forward the dispute and all relevant information you provided to the company that provided the information about you, and report the results back to you.
A credit reporting company is not required to investigate disputes that it reasonably determines are frivolous or irrelevant, such as disputes that do not contain enough information for the CRA to investigate them (e.g., disputes that do not specify what information is being disputed).The company must send you a notice explaining that it has decided the dispute is frivolous and why it has made that determination and the notice must be sent within five business days after it made the decision.
How To Repair Your Own Credit! EASY DIY Credit Repair
FAQ
Is it worth paying someone to fix your credit?
If your credit report shows a history of debt problems or contains errors, you may consider using a repair service to “clean it up.” Before you pay, however, know the way these businesses operate. In the vast majority of cases, hiring an outside company will do no more than waste your money.
Who do I talk to to fix my credit score?
For more in-depth information about how to fix your credit score or how to fix bad credit, you can contact us by calling us at 1-888-527-8999 or chat with us online. Our friendly staff can set you up with an appointment to speak with one of our accredited, non-profit credit counsellors.
What is the fastest way to repair your credit?
- Set Up Autopay. …
- Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Rate. …
- Pay Off Debt. …
- Avoid Applying for New Credit. …
- Keep Unused Credit Accounts Open. …
- Apply for a Secured Credit Card. …
- Consider a Credit-Builder Loan. …
- Get Credit Counseling. Challenging situations are always easier when you have some support.
Can you hire someone to fix your credit score?
People hire credit repair companies to help them investigate mistakes on their credit reports. But credit repair companies can’t remove negative information that’s accurate and current from your credit report.