Lauren Smith, WalletHub Staff Writer
@laurenellesmith
You can dispute a collection account on your credit report by contacting the major bureaus online, through the mail, or over the phone. Each bureau has an online dispute process available to consumers, which is the fastest method to file your claim. The bureaus typically resolve disputes within 30 to 45 days.
How To Dispute a Collection Account on Your Credit Report
- Review all three of your credit reports to locate the collection account.
- Investigate the entry to confirm if it is inaccurate or legitimate.
- Dispute any errors online, over the phone, or via mail.
- Wait for the results (usually 30 to 45 days).
Major Credit Bureaus’ Contact Information
| Credit Bureau | Online Portal | Mailing Address | Phone Number |
| Equifax Information Services, LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374-0256 | |||
| Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013 | |||
| TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000 |
Note, you should only dispute inaccurate entries. If negative information is correct, it will remain on your credit report for seven years in most cases. The impact on your credit score will lessen over time, though.
In some instances, you can repay a debt and subsequently ask the lender for a goodwill adjustment, which would remove it from your credit report. However, lenders are under no legal obligation to remove derogatory marks from your credit report even if the debt is paid.
You can check your TransUnion credit report for errors and get personalized credit-improvement tips for free here at WalletHub.
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