There are three main credit bureaus in the United States: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. If you've discovered an inaccuracy on your credit report, it's important to dispute it right away. To do this, you'll need to report the inaccuracy directly with the bureau that's reporting the error. For example, if Experian is reporting the error, contact them directly; they'll take care of notifying the other bureaus if an adjustment is made.

Filing a Dispute with Experian

If an error is being reported by Experian, you can dispute it online. At the top of your report, Experian will have a "report number." Write this number down. Once you visit Experian's online dispute form (see Resources), you'll be asked for the credit report number. A link to the TransUnion dispute form can be found in the "Resources" section of this article. Once the dispute is filled, you'll be able to check the status of the dispute online. The review process can take as long as 30 days from the date the form was received. However, according to Experian, most requests are processed much quicker.

Filing a Dispute with TransUnion

If TransUnion is the bureau that reported the error you're disputing, you can submit a dispute form through their website, over the phone or by mail. Online is the quickest way to dispute a credit error, according to TransUnion. A link to the TransUnion dispute form can be found in the "Resources" section of this article. File a dispute by phone by calling (800) 916-8800. Before calling, make sure you have your TransUnion file number from your credit report, date of birth and social security number. You'll also need to provide a current address. File a dispute by mail by calling TransUnion to request a dispute form. After you fill it out and mail it in, expect to receive a response within 45 days. Phone and online responses usually arrive sooner than this.

Equifax Dispute

File a credit report dispute with Equifax by filling out their form online, a link to which is in the "Resources" section of this article. You'll need to have your "Equifax Credit File" number ready. This number is 10 digits and appears on your Equifax credit report. After filling out the online form, responses to the dispute are available within 30 days.

More Information:

Experian: Dispute your Credit Report Online

TransUnion: Credit Disputes

Equifax: Welcome to Equifax Online Dispute