You found an error on your credit report and sent a dispute letter to the Credit Reporting Agency. You even included documents to back up your case. But about month later, you got a response from the credit bureau saying the account is “verified” or “accurate.”
Now what?
Unfortunately, this is a common, and incredibly frustrating, experience. But you’re not out of options. Here’s what you can do if a credit reporting agency refuses to correct a credit report error after your first dispute.
Step 1: Review the Response Carefully
Your first step is to clearly understand the results of the investigation. Did they keep the mistake on your report? Or did they fix it? This isn’t always obvious and it may help to compare the updated report you got as part of the investigation results with your old report from before you disputed.
It’s also important to know if they actually investigated your dispute. Although CRAs are generally required to investigate disputes, there are some exceptions. For example, if you failed to provide enough information with your dispute, the CRA may not have been able to conduct an investigation.
Step 2: Consider Disputing Again and Include More Information
Take another look at your initial dispute letter. Did you clearly identify the account that is wrong? Did you explain the mistake in enough detail? Did you send documents that show the error? If not, consider sending a second dispute letter with a clearer explanation or stronger supporting documentation.
Don’t just send the same dispute letter a second time. CRAs can properly refuse to investigate a dispute if it is substantially the same as a previous dispute, or if it provides no new information.
Step 3: Dispute with the Furnisher (the Company That Reported the Error)
You can also send a written dispute directly to the creditor or company that reported the inaccurate information (called the "furnisher"). Include a clear explanation of the error and all supporting documentation.
Important: only do this if you’ve already disputed to the Credit Bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, etc) and they’ve failed to fix the error. Direct disputes to furnishers are typically not governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and you don’t have any meaningful recourse if the furnisher ignores your dispute.
Step 4: File a Complaint with the CFPB
If you’re getting nowhere, consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can do this online at www.consumerfinance.gov.
The CFPB will forward your complaint to the credit bureau or furnisher and require a response. This process sometimes leads to faster resolutions.
Step 5: Talk to a Consumer Protection Lawyer
If you’ve completed Steps 1-4 here, and the mistake has still not been fixed, it may be time to talk to an attorney who handles credit reporting cases.
A lawyer can help you determine your next steps and whether you may have a legal claim under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Many lawyers who handle credit reporting error cases provide a free consult and do not charge up front fees for representation.
Final Thoughts
It’s incredibly frustrating when you do everything right and the system still fails you. But remember: You have rights. Credit bureaus and furnishers don’t get the final say when they don’t follow the law.