Credit reporting is a pipeline. Furnishers (lenders, creditors, collection agencies) supply account data to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). The bureaus store it in your file. You have the right under the FCRA to see this data, dispute inaccuracies, and demand investigation.
| Step | Who acts | What happens | FCRA section |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Creditor / Furnisher | Lender, creditor, or collection agency reports account data to bureaus | FCRA §623 |
| 2 | Credit Bureau | Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion stores the data in your credit file | FCRA §609 |
| 3 | Furnisher (again) | Furnisher must provide accurate and complete information, correct errors | FCRA §623(a)(2) |
| 4 | Consumer (You) | You review your report and dispute any inaccuracies | FCRA §611 |
| 5 | Bureau + Furnisher | Bureau investigates within 30 days; furnisher reviews and confirms/corrects | FCRA §611(a) |
| 6 | Bureau | Bureau sends results, updates file, and provides updated report if requested | FCRA §611(a)(6) |
Under FCRA §623, furnishers must provide accurate information, correct errors, and notify bureaus when they determine information is inaccurate. They must also conduct reasonable investigations when a consumer disputes directly with them. If a furnisher fails to investigate or correct, that is a violation.
Download free reports from annualcreditreport.com. You are entitled to one free report per bureau per year, plus additional free reports under FCRA §612 if denied credit, unemployed, on public assistance, or a victim of fraud.
Review every account for accuracy: account names, balances, payment history, dates opened/closed, account status, and whether each account is actually yours. Look for duplicates, mixed files, and items older than 7 years (10 for bankruptcy).
Choose the template that matches your scenario below. Fill in all bracketed fields. Be specific about what is inaccurate and why. Cite FCRA §611 when asserting your right to dispute.
Mail separate letters to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt — this creates a legal paper trail. Keep the tracking number and receipt. Online disputes are faster but may waive some rights.
Bureaus have 30 days to investigate from receipt of your dispute (45 days if you submit additional information during the 30-day window). The bureau must forward your dispute to the furnisher within 5 business days.
The bureau must send you written results within 5 business days of completing the investigation. If the item is unverifiable, it must be deleted. If corrected, you get a free updated report. If the furnisher confirms, the item stays.
If the bureau verifies the item but does not remove it, request the Method of Verification under FCRA §611(a)(7) within 15 days of receiving results. The bureau must describe how it verified the item within 15 days of your MOV request.
Send separate letters to each bureau. Certified Mail with Return Receipt — no exceptions.
P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
1-800-916-8800
Use when the reported balance, account status, payment history, or dates are wrong. This is the most common dispute scenario.
Use when you have no record of the account, the creditor cannot produce documentation, or the account was never validated. If the bureau cannot verify, it must delete.
Use when an account was opened fraudulently in your name. Under FCRA §605B, you can block information resulting from identity theft by providing an identity theft report and a sworn statement.
Use when a negative item is being reported beyond the legal time limit. Most items must be removed after 7 years; bankruptcies after 10 years; paid tax liens after 7 years.
Use when someone else's accounts or personal information appear on your credit report due to a file merge error — often caused by similar names, shared addresses, or close Social Security numbers.
When a bureau verifies a disputed item without removing it, you have the right under FCRA §611(a)(7) to request a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information. This is called a Method of Verification (MOV) request. Send it within 15 days of receiving the bureau's verification notice.
The bureau must respond within 15 days with the business name, address, and phone number of the furnisher they contacted, and a description of how they verified. If they cannot provide this, the item must be deleted.