Found an error? Start with the facts.

1. Identify the issue precisely.

The CFPB lists the common errors: accounts that do not belong to you, an incorrect account status, duplicate entries, and inaccurate balances or limits. Compare a questionable entry with your own records before deciding what needs correction.

Distinguish an actual inaccuracy from information you would prefer not to see. If an unfamiliar account suggests identity theft, follow the recovery guidance at IdentityTheft.gov. A disputed entry and an identity theft report are different processes, and the facts decide which applies.

Source: CFPB: Common credit report errors

2. Use the official dispute channels.

The CFPB advises contacting the credit reporting company and the organization that supplied the disputed information. Name the specific entry, say what you believe is incorrect and why, and include the records that relate to that issue.

You can take these steps yourself, at no cost. The CFPB provides instructions and sample letters. Follow the current directions of the reporting company or the information provider, keep a copy of everything you send, and protect account and identification details.

Source: CFPB: How to dispute an error

3. Keep the result with your records.

The FTC explains that a reporting company must provide the results of its investigation in writing. If the dispute produces a change, read the updated report and compare the result against the issue you raised. Keep the response and your supporting documents together.

If the issue remains unresolved, read the official guidance on the next steps instead of sending the same generic dispute again. This brief addresses consumer reports. Commercial reporting companies run their own correction procedures, so use the instructions for the business file in question.

Source: FTC: Disputing errors on credit reports ; Experian: Correcting business information

4. Put it into practice

1. Identify the exact entry and the factual reason you believe it is inaccurate.
2. Gather the relevant copies and follow the reporting company's current submission instructions.
3. Keep a dated record of the submission and read the written result against the original issue.

Questions about your own profile? Credit advisory is the engagement built around them, and the resource center holds the worksheets, the official guidance, and the reporting company directory.

General education only. This brief does not provide individualized legal or financial advice and does not promise any credit or financing outcome. Source material was reviewed on September 8, 2026; refer to the original guidance for updates. Credit advisory at Citadel Ridge is a separate educational engagement and is never a condition of any funding placement.