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Equifax Credit Dispute: How to Dispute Personal Information on a Credit Report
Equifax Credit Dispute: How to Dispute Personal Information on a Credit Report
A reader commented on the post “Strategies for Outsmarting Uncle Sam at Tax Time,” and we wanted to do our best to answer his question.
From Michael:
My ex-wives have very similar names (like Cristina & Tina) and they have the exact same last and middle names. Their credit reports got combined somehow. One of them thinks I did it. Not only did I not do it, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
How/where do I get info to prove no one can change another person’s report?
Generally, anyone with whom Equifax has established a business relationship and who has what is considered a “permissible purpose” under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) can obtain a copy of your credit report.
The companies, groups, and individuals who may have permissible purpose include:
- Potential lenders
- Landlords
- Insurance companies
- Employers and potential employers (with your written consent)
- Companies you allow to monitor your credit file activity, such as for potential signs of identity theft
- Those considering your application for a government license or benefit
- A state or local child-support enforcement agency
- Collection agencies
- Anyone who has established a business relationship with Equifax and has your written authorization to obtain your credit report
A third party may also access to your Equifax credit file under the requirements of a court order or other legal procedure.
If you believe that any item of information contained in your Equifax credit report is incomplete or inaccurate, simply notify us directly, and we will promptly investigate the matter on your behalf with the source that provided the information.
Within a month of your dispute request (45 days if your dispute is based on your free annual disclosure report), you will be notified of the results of the dispute investigation and provided with a credit file reflecting the results of the investigation at no charge.
You should examine this file carefully to make sure the inaccuracies have been corrected or removed. If information you disputed has been re-verified, it will remain in your credit file, but you can request that it be shown as disputed and you can add a statement of explanation to your credit file.
If your personal information (e.g., name or address) is incorrect on your credit file, we recommend that you first contact each of your creditors and confirm that your personal information is correct in their records. Updating your personal information with your creditors will help ensure that information they report to Equifax is correct.
Submitting your dispute online is the quickest and easiest way to resolve or correct errors on your credit file, but you can also write to us at:
Equifax
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
Related Articles:
What Does Divorce Do to My Credit?
How to Establish Credit with a Joint Account
How Is Information Updated on My Credit Report?
What’s in My Credit Report?
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
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"Great information. This short cut would help those who just don't know how to solve yet another problem in this day and age when applications for loans have been scrutinized."
Anja commented on this post via ActiveRain: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1998660/how-to-dispute-personal-information-on-a-credit-report