How Do I Remove Negative Items From My Credit Report?

5 Min Read | Last updated: November 30, 2023

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Credit reporting errors can sometimes happen and potentially lower your credit score. Learn how you can take action to remove negative items from your credit report.

At-A-Glance

  • Regularly checking your credit report is a good way to uncover any potential inaccuracies, such as incorrect account information and balances.
  • If you find a mistake on your credit report, it’s important to get the error removed – otherwise, it may impact your credit score.
  • Accounts you’ve never opened or credit inquiries you’ve never authorized may signify fraud.
  • You can file a dispute with the credit bureau(s) to have incorrect information removed from your credit report.

Your credit report is a bit like your financial “permanent record.” Chances are, you’d hope such a personal document is accurate and a good representation of your credit history. While most people have no inaccuracies on their credit reports, a 2021 Consumer Reports® investigation discovered that 34% of surveyed Americans found at least one error on their credit reports.1

 

If you ever happen to find an error on your credit report, the good news is that issuing a dispute is rather straightforward. But where to start? Let’s take a look at how to find credit reporting errors, how to get them removed from your credit report, and what you can do if you have legitimate financial errors in your credit history.

Regularly Checking Your Credit Report Can Help You Find Errors

There is a common myth that ordering your credit report or even just checking your credit score can negatively affect your credit. Fortunately, that’s not the case. It’s recommended that you check your credit score often and request credit reports regularly to make sure the information is up to date.2 The three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) can give you a free credit report every 12 months.3 You can also access your credit report through American Express® MyCredit Guide, a free service that allows you to view your FICO® Score and Experian® credit report. (FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.)

 

Taking advantage of the free credit checks you’re entitled to won’t impact your credit score, and it can help you spot errors that might otherwise impact your credit score and credit history if they were to go unnoticed.

Common Credit Report Errors to Look Out For

After you receive your credit reports, the next step is to carefully look for incorrect or incomplete information. You’ll want to make sure the following information is accurate and remove any incorrect items from your credit report as soon as possible:

  • Personal Information, such as your name, address, Social Security number, and other general data about you.
  • Account data, like whether credit card or loan accounts are opened or closed and the date they were opened or closed, whether you’re the account owner or authorized user, if there are any late payments or delinquent accounts, etc.
  • Balance information, including statement and loan balances and credit limits.
  • Payment history, including payment dates and late and any missed payment information.

Did you know?

As an added security measure to help protect against fraud, American Express reports a reference number to credit bureaus – instead of your actual account number.

If you spot any personal information that doesn’t match your own, accounts you’ve never opened, incorrect balances or payment history, or credit inquiries you didn’t authorize, it could point to identity theft or fraud – and it may also be impacting your credit score. It’s important to file a dispute to remove such errors from your credit report as soon as possible and take steps to recover your credit score and prevent fraud. For more info on fraud and how to report it, check out “How to Prevent Credit Card Fraud.”

Removing Incorrect Items from Your Credit Report

Each of the three major credit bureaus provide ways to dispute errors on your report by phone, mail, or online. The online process may be a bit more straightforward because it generally provides a template to work with, but government agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) offer template letters if you prefer to file a dispute by mail.

 

When filing your dispute, it’s important to clearly:

  • Describe each disputed item.
  • Explain the issue at hand.
  • Include and refer to any relevant documents that will help support your claims, including a copy of your credit report.
  • Request deletion or correction.

After you file the dispute to get errors removed from your credit report, you’ll likely hear back in a month. Incorrect information will usually be updated or deleted. For more information, read “How to Dispute Your Credit Report at All 3 Bureaus.”

What to Do if Your Credit Report Errors Weren’t Removed

If your dispute results come back and the incorrect information wasn’t rectified, or you disagree with the results, there are still some steps you can take:

  • Submit another dispute with new relevant proof.
  • Contact the company that furnished the disputed information and send them a copy of your dispute.4
  • Add a statement of dispute to your credit report. A statement of dispute allows you to explain why you believe certain information shown on your report is wrong. The statement will appear any time your credit report is accessed.
  • Submit a complaint to the CFPB. The CFPB works to help the general public fix financial discrepancies. Most companies respond within 15 days.5

How to Remove Negative Items from Your Credit Report

Something legitimate on your credit report could be lowering your credit score, like a closed account or missed payment. Unfortunately, the credit reporting bureaus typically won’t remove verifiable information, no matter how many times you dispute it. Instead, such information usually goes away after 7–10 years.6

The Takeaway

It’s important to review your credit report often and keep an eye out for any mistakes. If you find an error on your credit report, be sure to dispute it as soon as possible. Getting something removed from your credit report – especially if the info isn’t yours – can help prevent damage to your credit score, and maybe even protect you from fraud.

Headshot of Derek Moran

Derek Moran is a freelance writer and researcher whose work focuses on digital marketing and financial services.
 
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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