How to Check Your Credit Report for Errors

Errors on a credit report can cost you money, damage your credit score, and affect your ability to borrow. The good news is that checking your credit report is simple — and correcting mistakes is your legal right. Whether it’s a wrong balance, an unauthorized account, or outdated information, knowing how to review your report properly protects your financial identity and keeps your score accurate.

1. Get Your Credit Report from All Major Bureaus

Your credit report isn’t created by a single source. Each bureau maintains its own file, and errors may appear in one but not the others. To review your information thoroughly, you need reports from all three.

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

You’re entitled to a free report from each bureau every year, plus additional checks during disputes or fraud cases.

2. Review Personal Information Carefully

Start by checking the basics — your name, address, birth date, phone number, and employer. Even small inaccuracies can signal identity mix-ups or overlapping data from another person with a similar name.

• Incorrect spellings: Variations in your name or address.
• Outdated information: Old addresses or jobs that shouldn’t be listed.
• Unknown entries: Data that doesn’t belong to you at all.

3. Inspect Every Account Line-by-Line

Next, look at your accounts. This section provides the most detail and is the most likely place for errors. Compare each entry with your records to ensure accuracy.

• Wrong balances or limits: May raise your utilization ratio unfairly.
• Accounts you don’t recognize: Could indicate identity theft.
• Closed accounts listed as open: May affect your score.
• Duplicate accounts: The same debt reported twice.

4. Look for Late Payments or Delinquencies

Your payment history heavily influences your credit score. Make sure every late payment mark is accurate — even a single incorrect entry can hurt you for years.

• Incorrect late-payment reports: Ensure the dates align with your actual payment history.
• Items older than seven years: Negative marks should fall off after seven years.
• Settled or paid debts marked incorrectly: These should show the correct status.

5. Check Hard Inquiries for Accuracy

Hard inquiries appear when you apply for new credit. If you see inquiries you didn’t authorize, someone may have attempted to open an account in your name.

• Verify lenders: Make sure every inquiry matches a past application.
• Watch for clusters: Several inquiries in a short period may suggest fraud.
• Dispute unfamiliar entries: These shouldn’t remain on your report.

6. How to Dispute an Error

If you find a mistake, you can dispute it directly with the bureau. The process is free and legally protected — the bureau must investigate within 30 days in most cases.

• Gather evidence: Billing statements, emails, payment confirmations.
• Submit your dispute: Do it online, by phone, or by mail with all documentation.
• Monitor the result: The bureau will contact you with updates and final decisions.

7. Follow Up After the Correction

Even after an error is corrected, it’s essential to confirm that the change appears across all three bureaus. Monitor your reports and ensure the corrected entry stays accurate over time.

• Check again in 30–60 days: Give bureaus time to update.
• Save all documentation: Keep dispute records for future reference.
• Set reminders: Review your report at least once a year.

Final Thoughts

How to check your credit report for errors comes down to diligence and awareness. Mistakes happen more often than most people realize, but you have the tools to fix them. Review your reports regularly, dispute inaccuracies quickly, and protect the accuracy of your financial identity.