- 1). Order free Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports via annualcreditreport.com. The FTC explains that this site is the only official source for the no-cost reports mandated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Orders can be completed online or through a toll-free telephone number.
- 2). Examine every bad credit item for mistakes. Scrutinize dates, lender names, account balances, credit limits, payment dates and anything else that might be incorrect. You can legally dispute a report entry as long as there is truly a mistake, even if it is minor, according to the Motley Fool financial advice website.
- 3). Circle or highlight every questionable item on each report and write a letter to each credit bureau stating that you are disputing those entries. Explain your reason for each dispute and ask the bureaus to investigate within 30 days. That is the allowed time frame under the FCRA. They must erase anything that is not verified within that time.
- 4). Mail your letters to each credit bureau via certified mail, and ask the post office to provide you with a delivery receipt. The bureaus allow online disputes, but the FTC recommends sending hard copies and getting proof of the delivery dates.
- 5). Review each credit bureau's response. You should receive these within 30 days when the investigations are complete, and they should include new credit report copies. The bureaus must tell you if they validated any of the items. Those will still show up on the reports. Any other bad items you disputed should be gone.
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