How to Clean Up Your Credit Report

How to Clean Up Your Credit Report

Cleaning up your credit report starts with obtaining your reports from the three major bureaus and systematically challenging any inaccurate or outdated information that could be dragging down your score.

Get Your Free Reports

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — annually at AnnualCreditReport.com. Stagger your requests every four months to monitor your credit throughout the year without paying a fee.

Review for Errors

Scrutinize each report for missed payments that were actually on time, accounts belonging to someone else, duplicate debts, and negative items older than seven years (or ten for bankruptcies). Pay special attention to personal information, account balances, and payment histories.

Dispute Inaccurate Items

If you find mistakes, file a dispute directly with the credit bureau and the data furnisher — the creditor or collection agency that provided the information. The bureau must investigate within 30 days. Send your dispute by certified mail and keep copies of everything you send.

Add Positive Information

You can request that a verified positive account be added to your report if a creditor has not yet reported it. On-time rent and utility payments can also be added through services like Experian Boost or UltraFICO, depending on the bureau.

Monitor and Follow Up

After disputing, check your report again to confirm the changes. If the bureau reinstates an item, you can add a 100-word personal statement to your file explaining the context. Continue monitoring your credit to catch any new errors quickly.