Fix Errors On Your Credit Report

If you see incorrect information on your credit report, it's possible to fix it. If you find things like misinformation about where you live and payments recorded as late when they were on time, you need to contact the credit reporting company immediately. They are required by law to investigate and correct mistakes.

This is what you can do:

• Fill out a dispute form or write a letter to the credit reporting company explaining what's wrong.
  If there's credit information older than 7 1/2 years and if there's bankruptcy information older than 10 years on your report, it shouldn't be there.

• Contact the creditor or merchant who reported the information.
  They also have legal responsibility to report correct information to the credit reporting agency.

• Keep copies of the letters you send the credit reporting company.

• Get written verification of the change in the credit account.
  You should get written verification from the creditor and the credit reporting company that your information will be updated.

Add a personal statement to your credit reports

Credit reporting companies are required to accept these statements if they're related to incorrect information on your report. They are not required to accept statements that explain why you were late or did not pay, but many will. Keep your statements under 100 words.