Common questions about disputing credit report errors and your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
No. Filing a dispute does not lower your score, and lenders don't see the dispute as a negative mark. If an inaccurate negative item is corrected or removed, your score usually improves.
Bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate under the FCRA. This can extend to 45 days if you submit additional documentation mid-investigation. They must mail you the written results when finished.
Yes — disputing directly with the bureaus costs nothing. Credit-repair companies charge for the same thing you can do yourself. This site and its generator are free, with no signup. See free vs. paid dispute options compared or common questions about free dispute tools.
Section 609 covers your right to see what's in your file. Section 611 is the actual dispute-and-investigation process. Real disputes are resolved under Section 611, no matter which number a template cites. Our generator references the correct statute (15 U.S.C. § 1681i). Read the full 609 vs 611 breakdown →
Mailing a certified letter is usually better. It creates a dated paper trail and preserves your full rights — including the ability to take legal action if a bureau fails to investigate. Online portals sometimes ask you to waive certain rights in their terms.
You can re-dispute with stronger evidence, add a 100-word consumer statement to your file, file a complaint with the CFPB, or consult a consumer-protection attorney. Keep copies of everything.
No. The letter generator runs entirely in your browser. Your name, address, and account details are never uploaded to a server or saved anywhere. Close the tab and it's gone.
There's no hard limit, but repeating an identical dispute with no new information can be deemed "frivolous" and dismissed. Each re-dispute should add new evidence or address a different inaccuracy.