Lesson · Facts first · Free
Disputing an error — the 30-day rule that forces answers
The credit bureaus legally must investigate a dispute within 30 days. Make them do their job.
The facts
- 01Under FCRA §611 (15 U.S.C. §1681i), a bureau must complete its investigation within 30 days of receiving your dispute — extendable by 15 days only if you supply additional information during the window.
- 02Disputes are free. File with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion separately — they do not share investigations. Online, by phone, or by mail; mail gives you a paper trail.
- 03If the furnisher (the lender or collector) cannot verify the item, the bureau must delete or correct it. If it comes back verified but you disagree, you can add a 100-word statement to your file under FCRA §611(b).
- 04File with the CFPB (consumerfinance.gov/complaint) if a bureau stonewalls — complaints there get routed with regulatory visibility.
- 05Use the free dispute-letter tool on this page — it builds the letter with the right citations and your state's requirements.
Sources
- FTC — Disputing errors on credit reports: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/disputing-errors-your-credit-reports
- Cornell LII — 15 U.S.C. §1681i: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681i
- CFPB complaint portal: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
Fix it yourself — free
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Disclaimer: Educational information only — not credit repair, legal, or financial advice. You can always dispute items yourself for free directly with the bureaus.