Key takeaways
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site for free weekly reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- Look for accounts you don't recognize, wrong late payments and incorrect balances.
- Disputes are free and the bureau generally has 30 days to investigate.
Errors on your credit report can lower your score and cost you money. Checking takes about 15 minutes per bureau, and it’s free.
Where to get your reports
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site authorized by federal law. You can get free reports from all three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, every week.
Be careful with lookalike sites that ask for a credit card number. The official site doesn’t require one.
What to look for
Personal information
Check your name, addresses and employers. Unfamiliar addresses can be a sign of identity theft.
Accounts
- Accounts you didn’t open
- Accounts listed as open that you closed
- The same debt listed more than once
- Incorrect credit limits or balances
Payment history
- Late payments you actually made on time
- Accounts showing as delinquent that were paid
Negative items that should be gone
Most negative information should drop off after seven years. Chapter 7 bankruptcies can remain for 10 years. Paid medical collections and medical collections under $500 are no longer reported by the three bureaus.
Hard inquiries
Look for applications you don’t remember making.
How to dispute an error
- Gather proof: statements, payment confirmations or letters.
- File a dispute with each bureau that shows the error. You can do it online, by mail or by phone. Each bureau has its own process.
- Contact the company that reported it (the “furnisher”) as well. Disputing with both can speed things up.
- Keep records of everything you send and when.
The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate, and must send you the results. If the item is corrected, ask for an updated report to be sent to anyone who checked your credit recently.
If the dispute is denied
You can add a short statement to your report explaining your side, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or provide new documentation and dispute again.
If you find fraud
Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan, and consider freezing your credit.
WalletJolly may earn a commission from links on this page. Rates, prices and rules mentioned are current as of Oct. 28, 2026 and can change. This article is general information, not financial, tax, insurance or legal advice.
