- 1). Order your credit report. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act or FACTA gives consumers the right to request one free credit report each year from the three major bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can order your report from the site established under FACTA: annualcreditreport.com. You can also order the reports from the bureau's website, by phone or mail.
- 2). Check the report carefully for errors. Bureaus update their data on a regular basis so information may have changed since you last viewed it.
- 3). File a dispute online with the credit bureau. You can use the online form to indicate which item you're disputing and the reason. You can also file a dispute by phone with a customer service representative or via mail. Mailed disputes should include a dispute letter that details the items in dispute, the reasons and include any supporting documentation, if applicable.
- 4). Print the credit report if you accessed it online. You can receive one free report under FACTA but if you fail to print it, the bureau may charge you a fee to view it again at a later date. Print the online dispute form also.
- 5). Wait to receive your results from the credit bureau. Under the FCRA, bureaus have up to 30 days to investigate your dispute and make corrections. If you filed an online dispute, the bureau will send your results by email. Results for disputes initiated by phone or mail are sent out by regular mail. The bureau will also include an updated copy of your credit report that shows the corrections that were made.
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