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Fix credit report errors and build stronger credit

Get a clearer picture of your credit and help correcting mistakes. Learn how to dispute errors yourself or compare paid credit-repair services.

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Compare paid help with credit-report disputes.

Compare credit repair companies by plan price, dispute limits and credit-tracking tools.

Questions before you decide

Can a credit repair company remove accurate negative information?

No company can lawfully promise to remove accurate, current negative information. You can dispute information that is inaccurate or cannot be verified, and you can work directly with the reporting company and the furnisher. Treat claims of a new identity, guaranteed score increase, or instant deletion as red flags.

How do I dispute an error on my credit report?

Identify the specific item, explain why it is wrong, and send copies of supporting records to the credit reporting company. Also dispute with the company that supplied the information. Keep copies and delivery records. The CFPB provides a sample letter and notes that furnishers generally must investigate and respond.

Where can I get my real credit reports for free?

Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized site for free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Review all three because the information can differ. A credit report is not the same as a credit score, so do not assume a free-report offer includes the scoring model a lender will use.

How long does a credit-report dispute take?

A credit reporting company generally investigates within 30 days, though certain disputes can take up to 45 days. It generally must send you the result within five business days after finishing. That timeline is not a promise of deletion: accurate information may remain. Save the result and supporting records in case you need to dispute with a furnisher or file a CFPB complaint.

Will paying off a collection automatically remove it from my credit report?

Paying or settling a collection does not by itself require a credit reporting company to delete accurate history. First verify that the account belongs to you and the balance is correct. If you resolve it, keep the settlement or payment records; ask questions about reporting before you agree, but do not rely on a verbal deletion promise.

Should I pay a credit repair company up front?

Be cautious. Credit repair organizations generally cannot charge before they perform promised services, and they cannot make deceptive claims about results. Before paying anyone, obtain your own reports, identify any factual errors, and compare the company’s written scope and fees with the free dispute process available directly to consumers.