Credit repair guide

What happens after you dispute your credit report

You sent your disputes. Now what? Here's what happens during the investigation and exactly what to do with every answer.

The 30 day window

Once a bureau receives your dispute, it generally has 30 days to investigate. It contacts the company that reported the item, and that company has to check it. Then the bureau has to send you the results in writing.

The 3 possible results

What to do with each answer

Deleted

Pull that report again and confirm it's gone. Check the other 2 bureaus, because the same item may still show there.

Updated

Compare the new details to your records. If it's still wrong, send a new dispute with more detail.

Verified

Send your next round: ask the bureau how it was verified, add more proof, and contact the company reporting it directly.

Keep a log. One line per item: bureau, date sent, date answered, result, next step. That log is what keeps you moving round after round.

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Common questions

How long does a credit dispute take?

The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate after it receives your dispute.

What does verified mean?

The company reporting the item says it's correct. You can still send another round with more detail and proof.

Will the item come off all 3 reports?

Not automatically. Each bureau is separate, so check all 3.

Does disputing hurt my score?

No. Disputing does not lower your credit score.

More guides

How to dispute your credit report yourself (free, step by step)Pull all 3 reports free, find what's wrong, and dispute it yourself with each bureau.How to remove collections from your credit reportHow to get a collection account removed from your credit report yourself: check it on all 3 reports, dispute it, ask the collector to verify, and what to do with every answer.How to remove late payments from your credit reportHow to get late payments off your credit report yourself: find every late mark on all 3 reports, dispute the wrong ones, and send a goodwill letter for the rest.How to remove hard inquiries from your credit reportHow to find and remove hard inquiries you didn't authorize from your credit report, and how long the rest stay and affect your score.