Stop disputing without a strategy.

Before you send another credit dispute, check these 7 things.

Use this 7-Point Credit Report Accuracy Checklist with your reports in front of you. Check off each item as you review it.

1. Account balances and payment historiesCompare the balance and each disputed payment month with a statement or payment confirmation.
2. Reporting dates and account statusCheck the opening date, delinquency dates, and whether the account is marked open, closed, or past due.
3. Differences across bureausLine up the same account on Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Note the report date before treating different balances as an error.
4. Collections and charge-offsMatch the original creditor, current owner, balance, and delinquency date. A sold debt can appear under more than one name; check each entry’s status.
5. Evidence for the discrepancyWrite one sentence naming the field, what it says, what you believe it should say, and the document that supports it.
6. Investigation and follow-up recordsKeep copies of your dispute, delivery confirmation, written results, and the report after the investigation.
7. Your next stepIdentify what remains unresolved. Decide whether new evidence, a question about the investigation, or an appropriate complaint would address it.

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