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The Daily Insight Hub

What are the steps with disputing credit?

Author

Rachel Davis

Updated on February 20, 2026

If you find something in your credit report that doesn’t belong there, here’s what to do.

  1. Step 1 – Identify any credit report errors.
  2. Step 2 — Contact the furnisher.
  3. Step 3 – Dispute Your Credit Report’s Errors.
  4. Step 4 – Allow time for the investigation.
  5. Step 5 – Follow up after the investigation.

Does removing dispute hurt my credit?

No. The act of disputing items on your credit report does not hurt your score. However, the outcome of the dispute could cause your score to adjust. If the “negative” item is verified to be correct, for example, your score might take a dip.

Do 609 dispute letters work?

Does a 609 letter really improve my credit? There’s no evidence to suggest a 609 letter is more or less effective than the usual process of disputing an error on your credit report—it’s just another method of doing so. If the dispute is valid, the credit bureaus will remove the negative item.

How to dispute an error on a credit report?

Note: If the information you want to dispute appears on all three reports, you’ll need to file a separate dispute with each of the credit reporting bureaus. 4. Print out your credit report and notate the errors

What happens when you get a notice of Correction on your credit report?

If the provider of the information disputes that the information is inaccurate, you should contact the company directly to get to the bottom of what’s gone wrong, and keep the Notice of Correction on your credit report. Will a Notice of Correction affect my ability to borrow?

What can cause a credit report to be removed?

Further, “accurate or inaccurate” is not the only variable that can cause the credit reporting agencies to remove something from a credit report. Your credit report information must be able to be verified, right or wrong.

What to do if someone put information on your credit report?

Even if you don’t know who has put the information on your credit report, you can complain to any credit reporting body or creditor. If you send a complaint to a credit reporting body, make sure you also send a copy to any relevant creditor. Remember to date, sign and keep a copy of your letter.