The rule of thumb: you're not disputing that something bad happened. You're disputing that it's reported correctly. Dates, balances, statuses, duplicates, who owns the debt, and how long it's been there are all fair game.
Collections
The most common negative item, and the most often reported wrong. Six errors to look for.
Read →Charge-offs
The lender wrote it off, then often kept reporting a balance they no longer own. Here's how to catch it.
Read →Late payments
The single most damaging common item. When a late is actually wrong, and when to ask for goodwill instead.
Read →Hard inquiries
Only unauthorized pulls come off. Here's how to tell, and how to dispute them properly.
Read →Repossessions
Deficiency balances and post-sale reporting are wrong more often than you'd think.
Read →Foreclosures
Status and dates decide when you can get a mortgage again. Make sure they're right.
Read →Bankruptcy
The filing itself usually stays. The accounts inside it are where the errors are.
Read →Student loans
Servicer transfers and the payment pause left a lot of wrong data behind. Here's what to check.
Read →Medical collections
Under $500, paid, or less than a year old? The bureaus' own rules say it shouldn't be there.
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