Your credit report should be accurate. In fact, it may be vital in order to meet your current life goals and decisions.
If you want to rent an apartment, buy a house, purchase a car, or take out a loan, an error on your credit report could be the one thing standing in your way. It affects the significant areas of your life, and you deserve (and have the right to) an accurate credit report to ensure you get what you earned.
There are many times when a large event is interrupted because inaccurate information is included on a credit report. From a simple misspelled name to surprise loans being taken out in your name, errors in your credit score can vary and impact your life.
Here is how you can take back your credit report.
Dispute the Credit Report Errors with the Three Main Credit Bureaus
Your first step to disputing errors on your credit report is to tell the company reporting them – most often – the three main credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Start by explaining the problem. Quick, concise and if possible, provide them with evidence that the information on the report is incorrect. For example, if your birthday is listed incorrectly, you can provide a copy of your birth certificate. You want to be clear about what is wrong and what the accurate information is.
You can dispute your credit report with the three main credit bureaus in several ways, such as online or through the mail.
Experian:
Submit Your Claim Online– Experian
Mail-In– Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013
Equifax:
Submit Your Claim Online– Equifax
Mail-In– Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30348
TransUnion:
Submit Your Claim Online– TransUnion
Mail-In– TransUnion LLC Consumer Dispute Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016
Understand the Process
Once you submit your claim, the credit bureaus have 30 days to investigate it. They will review the evidence you provided and examine their records. If they deem the investigation frivolous or irrelevant, they will stop looking into it. On the other hand, if they change any information, they will contact the company that provided the information and send notice of corrections to anyone who obtained your credit report in the last six months. You will also get a free copy of your updated credit report.
Dispute the Credit Errors with the Businesses Who Supplied the Information
While the three main credit bureaus will report the incorrect information to the companies who reported it in the first place, notifying that company yourself may also be the right move.
You can submit a similar dispute letter to the company that initially reported the wrong information, ensuring they see the issue firsthand. If they keep reporting the disputed information to the credit bureaus, they must inform the credit bureaus that you have disputed the information they are utilizing.
Report the Errors to Law Enforcement if Necessary
If your credit report shows incorrect information because someone stole your identity and chose to open accounts in your name, spend your money, or conduct medical or criminal activity, you must also report the issues to law enforcement.
Identity theft is not only an annoyance to your credit report but also a crime. It is essential to take the evidence you have acquired, including the report you obtained from the three main credit bureaus, and bring it to law enforcement for them to conduct their own investigation.
Keep Tabs on the Investigation and Your Credit Report
Throughout the month that the investigation takes place, make sure to keep tabs on your credit report and be aware of any changes or developing issues that might occur. Additionally, watch out for any emails or notifications from the three main credit bureaus about your case and its developments.
You want to ensure you do not miss any new incorrect information or that your credit report has reverted to normal.
If There is no Change, Take it to the Next Level
There is always the chance that the three main credit bureaus report back to you that your case is frivolous or irrelevant, choosing not to investigate your case or help change your credit report. There is also the possibility that they simply do not see the issues and do not change anything either way.
If this is the case and you have tried all that you could and the large corporations are not listening to you, there is a next step you can take. You have the right to an accurate credit report, and a consumer law attorney can help ensure your rights are upheld. A consumer law attorney can represent you in your case and ensure that the large corporations hear you and take your case seriously. If you want an accurate credit report, it could be time for some legal support.
If you have further questions or are not being helped by the large corporations, contact the team at Rapp Law Firm.