How to dispute an error on your Equifax report
You can dispute inaccurate information on your Equifax credit report by contacting Equifax directly, either online through their dispute portal, by mail, or by phone. Equifax is required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to investigate your dispute within 30 days and remove information that cannot be verified as accurate. The fastest method is usually their online portal at equifax.com/personal/disputes, which lets you describe the error and upload supporting documents in one session.
Before you dispute, get a copy of your actual Equifax report. You can obtain one free copy every 12 months at annualcreditreport.com, the official site run by the three major credit bureaus. Once you have the report in hand, you will know exactly which account, date, or balance is wrong — this specificity matters because vague disputes often get dismissed without investigation.
The dispute process itself does not cost money. Equifax cannot charge you to investigate a dispute, and they cannot require you to use a credit repair company or pay a third party to file on your behalf. You can do this yourself.
Key Takeaways
- You can dispute directly with Equifax online, by mail, or by phone without paying anyone to do it for you.
- Equifax must investigate your dispute within 30 days and remove information they cannot verify as accurate.
- Get your free Equifax report first from annualcreditreport.com so you know exactly what to dispute.
- If Equifax does not remove the error after investigation, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at no cost.
Three ways to file your dispute with Equifax
Online through their dispute portal is the fastest route. Go to equifax.com/personal/disputes, select the item you want to dispute from your report, choose the reason (wrong balance, account not yours, duplicate listing, etc.), and upload any documents that support your claim — a bank statement, a letter from the creditor, a police report if it is fraud. You will get a confirmation number and can track the investigation status online.
By mail takes longer but creates a paper trail. Write a letter to Equifax Dispute Department, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374. Include your name, address, the specific item you are disputing, why it is wrong, and copies (not originals) of any supporting documents. Send it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Keep a copy for your records.
By phone at 1-866-349-5191 lets you speak to someone, but you will still need to follow up in writing. Equifax may take a phone report, but the FCRA requires them to document disputes in writing, so expect them to send you a form to complete and return. Phone is useful if you need to clarify something or ask questions before filing, but do not rely on it as your only method.
What happens during the 30-day investigation
Once Equifax receives your dispute, they contact the creditor or data furnisher who reported the information to them — the bank, credit card company, collection agency, or whoever provided the account details. That creditor has to investigate your claim and report back to Equifax whether the information is accurate or not.
If the creditor cannot verify the information as accurate, Equifax must remove it from your report. If the creditor confirms it is accurate, the item stays. Equifax will send you a written result, usually within 30 days, explaining what they found and what action they took. If they removed the item, it should disappear from your report within a few days of that letter.
The 30-day clock starts when Equifax receives your dispute, not when you send it. If you mail it, add a few days for delivery. If you file online, the clock starts when ready.
When the dispute does not result in removal
If Equifax investigates and the creditor confirms the information is accurate, the item will remain on your report. This does not mean you are out of options. You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB investigates complaints about credit reporting and can pressure Equifax or the creditor to take another look if they believe the investigation was flawed.
You can also dispute the same item again if you have new evidence — a corrected statement from the creditor, proof the account was closed, documentation that the debt was paid. Each new dispute triggers a new investigation. Some people file multiple disputes over months as they gather more documentation.
If you believe Equifax or the creditor violated the FCRA, you may have grounds to sue. This is rare and usually requires an attorney, but the FCRA allows you to recover damages if a company knowingly or recklessly fails to follow the law. Many attorneys offer free consultations for FCRA cases.
Disputes for fraud or identity theft
If the error is an account you did not open or a charge you did not make, file a dispute and also place a fraud alert on your credit file. You can add a one-year fraud alert by contacting any one of the three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — and they are required to notify the other two. Call Equifax at 1-800-525-6285 to place the alert.
A fraud alert tells creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. It does not lock your credit, but it does slow down fraudsters. If you believe your identity has been stolen, you can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov, which creates an official record and gives you a recovery plan.
How disputes affect your credit score
Filing a dispute does not hurt your credit score. The act of disputing does not show up on your report or lower your score. However, if the dispute results in removal of a negative item — a late payment, a collection account, a high balance — your score may improve once that item is gone.
During the investigation period, the disputed item usually stays on your report and continues to affect your score. Once Equifax removes it, the score impact stops. If the item is verified as accurate and stays on your report, your score does not change.
Preventing errors before they happen
Check your Equifax report at least once a year using your free annual report from annualcreditreport.com. Look for accounts you do not recognize, balances that seem wrong, or duplicate listings of the same account. Catching errors early means you can dispute them before they damage your score or before they age off your report naturally.
If you spot an error on one bureau's report, check the other two as well. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion do not always have the same information, so an error might appear on one report but not the others. You can dispute with each bureau separately if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to see the dispute result?
Equifax has 30 days by law to investigate and respond. In practice, most disputes are resolved within two to three weeks. You will receive written notice of the result, and if an item is removed, it typically disappears from your report within a few days of that notice.
Can I dispute the same item more than once?
Yes, but only if you have new information or evidence. Filing the same dispute repeatedly without new documentation may be treated as frivolous and dismissed. If you gather additional proof — a corrected statement, a letter from the creditor — you can file again and Equifax must investigate.
What if Equifax says they investigated but did not remove the item?
You can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which investigates complaints about credit reporting companies. You can also dispute again if you have new evidence, or consult an attorney if you believe the investigation was improper or violated the FCRA.
Does disputing hurt my credit score?
No. Filing a dispute does not lower your score. The disputed item stays on your report during the investigation, so it continues to affect your score the same way it did before. If the dispute results in removal, your score may improve.
What documents should I send with my dispute?
Send copies of anything that proves the information is wrong — a bank statement showing a different balance, a letter from the creditor confirming the account was closed, a police report if it is fraud, or a payment receipt if you paid something that is still listed as unpaid. Do not send originals; keep those for yourself.