Credit dispute.

In plain English

A credit dispute is your legal right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to challenge any item on your credit report that is inaccurate, incomplete, or that you cannot verify, such as an account that is not yours, a wrong balance, or a late mark you actually paid on time. You file it with the credit bureau (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) that shows the error, and the bureau must investigate, usually within about 30 days, and either fix or remove anything it cannot verify. Disputing is free, and you do not need to pay a credit-repair company to do it for you. You can also send the dispute directly to the lender or collector that reported the item. Check your reports for free every week at annualcreditreport.com.

01Why it matters

Credit report errors are common, and a single wrong late mark or a debt that is not even yours can cost you a loan approval or a higher rate, so disputing it (for free) can directly raise your score.

02The math, step by step

You pull your free report and see a $0 closed account listed as 60 days late, even though you paid it off on time. You file a dispute online with the bureau showing the error, attach your payment confirmation, and explain the account was never late. The bureau contacts the lender to verify. If the lender cannot prove the late payment, the FCRA requires the bureau to correct or delete it, and the late mark comes off.

03What this is NOT

04Receipts

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