how to dispute an account on my credit report that isn't mine

Use the free tool — Credit Report Dispute

What this is about

Maybe you found an account on your credit report that isn't yours. Maybe it's a late payment you actually made on time, a paid debt still showing a balance, or a collection that's older than 7 years. This guide explains the rule behind those problems and how to challenge them.

Credit bureaus must reinvestigate anything you dispute within 30 days and delete what they can't verify. The lender or collector that reported the item has its own separate duty to investigate. Most people dispute online with one click and get a form-letter "verified" back. Pasting the item and what's actually true, and sending real letters instead, is a different approach.

The rule behind your dispute

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) must reinvestigate a disputed item within 30 days. If they can't verify it, they must delete it. This applies to the bureau's side under §611.

Separately, the lender or collector that reported the item to the bureau has its own duty to investigate under §623. That's why a dispute usually needs two letters, not one.

The two letters

A letter to the credit bureau (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion), citing §611, listing your attachments, with the 30-day deadline calculated from your send date.
A letter to the lender or collector that reported the item, citing §623, also listing attachments.

Each bureau must be disputed separately — a dispute sent to one bureau doesn't automatically cover the others.

How to send it and what to attach

Use certified mail with return receipt, so you have proof of when the letter arrived.
Send copies of your proof — never originals.
Keep track of the 30-day date so you know when the bureau's deadline passes.

If they "verify" it anyway

Sometimes a bureau will say the item is "verified" without really looking into it. There are next steps for that situation, including a CFPB complaint and, if it comes to that, a 100-word statement added to your file. The exact wording of those steps depends on your specific case.

Never pay a "credit repair" company to do this. The law gives you the same tools for free. If a violation was willful, FCRA damages and fees may be available — that's a question for a consumer attorney, not this guide.

What this guide can't tell you

This is not legal advice. It is based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), Regulation V (12 CFR 1022), and CFPB guidance as of 2025–26. It can't see your full credit report, and it isn't affiliated with any bureau, lender, or agency. If you're unsure about your specific situation, especially anything involving damages for a willful violation, check with a consumer attorney. Note: background checks for jobs or housing are a different process — that's covered separately, not here.

What to do next

The free tool reads the tradeline as it appears on your report, along with what's actually true, and drafts both letters for you: the one to the credit bureau and the one to the furnisher. It also tells you which rule applies, calculates your 30-day deadline, and lists what proof to attach. It's offered in English and Spanish, at no cost. Always confirm anything unusual with a consumer attorney before you rely on it.

Use the free tool

Credit Report Dispute is an informational tool based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), Regulation V (12 CFR 1022) and CFPB guidance as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice and does not send disputes. Employment and tenant screening reports are covered by Background Check Dispute. It is not affiliated with any bureau, lender or agency.