Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus must investigate disputes and correct or delete information they can't verify. You don't need a paid "credit repair" service - and the Credit Repair Organizations Act bans those services from charging before they do the work.
Step 1: get your reports
Free weekly reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com (made permanent in 2023).
Step 2: dispute with the bureau (FCRA §611)
- Dispute online, by phone or by mail (mail creates the clearest paper trail - certified, return receipt).
- The bureau must investigate within 30 days (45 days if you dispute after getting your free annual report or add information during the investigation).
- It must forward your dispute to the furnisher within 5 business days and send you the results within 5 business days of finishing.
- If the information can't be verified, it must be deleted or corrected.
Mailing addresses: Equifax, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374. Experian, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013. TransUnion, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. (Check each bureau's website for the current dispute address before mailing.)
Step 3: dispute directly with the furnisher (§623)
You can also dispute with the lender or collector that reported the data. They must investigate and report the result.
Step 4: if the bureau "verifies" it
- Request the method of verification (§611(a)(7)) - they must describe how they verified within 15 days of your request.
- Add a 100-word consumer statement to your file.
- File a complaint with the CFPB and, if needed, consult a consumer attorney (FCRA allows damages and attorney fees).
How long negative items stay
- Most negative information: 7 years (collections and charge-offs: 7 years plus 180 days from the first delinquency).
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy: 10 years.
- Medical debt: the three bureaus don't report paid medical collections or those under $500, and wait a year before reporting new ones (a 2025 federal rule banning medical debt was vacated).
Generate your dispute letters for each bureau and the furnisher, with the right FCRA sections.