Equifax Credit Report Dispute With Online Form: +Address, Phone Number

Tips When Making an Equifax Credit Dispute

• Be Brief
• Important Information on Top
• Be Prepared to Wait
• Never Throw It Away
• Check Your Status

Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting bureaus. That means they house some of your most important and sensitive information. All of that information is part of your credit report.

The other credit bureaus keep their own credit reports. However, many banks and lenders look to Equifax to get information on you. They use this information to make decisions about lines of credit and loans.

Your credit score and Equifax credit report don’t only influence whether you’re approved or denied for a loan. They also play a large role in what kind of terms you’re offered. For example, people with higher credit scores will get better offers on interest rates and fees.

However, false information can find its way on to your credit report. This is true of all three agencies. Equifax is no different. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to doing an Equifax dispute.

We’ll go over what a credit dispute is. We’ll also cover the different kinds of credit disputes. Then we have all the information you’ll need to launch a successful Equifax dispute. That includes the contact information for Equifax. Finally, we’ll tell you how you can check your Equifax dispute status.

Use this information to ensure your credit report is accurate. Credit reports are used to determine who gets a job and if a landlord will rent to you in addition to approval and rates on loans and credit. Therefore, there’s too much at stake to risk false information on your report.

What is a Credit Dispute?

A credit dispute is a way to challenge false and harmful information on your credit report. Federal law contains rules about credit reporting. A dispute is a way to use those laws to protect your credit history.

People get false information on their reports quite frequently. However, it’s up to each consumer to monitor their reports. They need to take steps to correct bad information. Sometimes the information is something as simple as a prior address you never actually lived at.

But other times, the information can be devastating. This includes things like late payments, overdue accounts, and maxed-out lines of credit. It can also include bankruptcies, judgements, liens, and collections. This type of information can do serious damage to your credit score.

The information can get on your report several ways. There’s a lot of paperwork and data entry involved in the credit reporting process. Equifax credit reports are no different. It just takes one person’s typo, missed click, or distraction to put incorrect information on your report.

False information on your Equifax credit report can also get there from identity theft. After all, Equifax itself was breached in 2017. As a result, thousands of consumer’s information entered the world wide web.

People can use that information to open up accounts in your name. They will spend money without paying it back. The creditor or lender then reports that you’re not paying your debts. As a result, your credit score can take a huge hit.

Credit disputes let you handle all of these situations. They can correct false information from typos and mistakes. They can also resolve issues that come from identity theft.

What Kinds of Disputes are There?

While there are lots of ins and outs when it comes to the law and credit reporting, we recommend thinking of credit report disputes in two ways. Disputes and verification.

We talk about disputes as a situation when you can prove that the information is false. For example, if you have court documents discharging a debt, but that debt still appears on your credit history. These types of cases are frequently open and shut.

Federal law says that you can file a dispute with your creditor and with the credit reporting agency. So, when you want to dispute Equifax credit report, you’re on solid legal ground.

You can also request verification. For our purposes, verification requests are when you don’t have hard evidence that the information is false. For example, official documents and papers.

Verification is a useful tool for consumers. That’s because federal law says that information can’t be included on a credit report unless it’s 100% accurate. The burden is on Equifax to prove that the information on your report is true.

Equifax has 30 days to respond and either verify, correct, or delete any item you request verification on. That requirement is set out by federal law. If the company doesn’t do any of those things, then you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Fourth, make copies of all the paperwork you send them. That includes the dispute letter itself, as well as any other documents. Make sure the date is clear on all the documents. After all, many financial matters center around when a payment was due, when it was made, and so on. Equifax doesn’t record late payments unless they’re 30 or more days late.

Finally, you need to decide how you’re going to do your dispute. You can send a letter, use the company’s online tool, or call their customer service. There’s some debate about the best way to file your dispute, so we’ll talk about that in the next section.

Should I Dispute Online?

Each way of filing your dispute has its own benefits and challenges. You should decide which way works best for you.

Filing a dispute through the phone is almost always the wrong choice. It’s hard to document when you contacted Equifax about your credit report. You also might not be able to document what the customer service agent says. Some states forbid recording phone calls without both parties’ consent. This is important. If you have a problem with your dispute later on, you’ll need this key evidence and information.

Many of the best credit repair companies recommend using online submissions if you’re doing it yourself. These are generally processed quickly. It’s also easier to document what you’ve done. You can take screenshots of your submission and all the relevant documents.

However, sometimes companies include terms of use for their online dispute service. These terms of use can be used to shield the company from liability if there’s a problem with your dispute. It can also prevent you from joining class action lawsuits and other types of legal action.

We recommend using old-fashioned snail mail for your dispute process. It’s not as fast as the online option. However, you can use things like certified mail and other tools to effectively document the process. This can help you a lot if you have problems with your dispute.

The downside to snail mail is that it will take longer to process. That’s why it’s important to start working on your credit well before someone is going to make a decision based on your credit.

Tips for Successfully Disputing Equifax Credit Reports

The process of composing a letter and following through on the dispute can seem intimidating. That’s why we’ve put together some tips to help.

Tip 1: Be Brief

Credit reporting agencies are businesses. They’re not interested in your opinions on what’s right or wrong. They also don’t want the whole backstory regarding a situation. Don’t overload your letter with unnecessary details. There’s only a risk these details confuse some part of your dispute. Worse, sometimes they can even undermine it. Stick to the facts. Tell the agency the what, not the why.

Tip 2: Important Information on Top

Make sure all of the most important information is at the top of your letter. That information should include things like your account number, report number, contact information, case number, and so on. That way the company will be able to easily reference the information they need to make a decision. This will help them process your dispute faster.

Tip 3: Be Prepared to Wait

With all of our access to technology, we’ve come to expect results almost instantly. However, that’s not the way this process works. Legally, Equifax has 30 days to respond to your request. Don’t be surprised if you wait all 30 days. This is part of the reason why using certified mail is such a good idea. You can verify when the company received your communication. That means you’ll know when they’ll have to respond to you.

Tip 4: Never Throw It Away

You want to make sure you keep everything related to your dispute. That means information you send to Equifax, as well as any communication you get back from them. This helps you establish a paper trail. It also gives lawyers the information they need if you need to escalate your dispute.

Equifax Dispute Inquiry Contact Info

If you’re going to dispute your Equifax credit report, you’ll need to know where to send the dispute. We’ve included their address, phone number, and website here.

Equifax Dispute Address

If you want to dispute your credit report with Equifax by mail, you’ll need to send your letter and documentation to the following location:

Equifax Information Services, LLC

P.O. Box 740256

Atlanta, GA 30374

Remember, always used certified mail when sending documents to Equifax. Make sure you request a return receipt. That acts as proof that the company got the documents you sent them. It also provides a way for you to track the process.

Equifax Dispute Phone Number

If you want to call Equifax with your dispute, the number is 1-866-349-5191.

Remember, calling is usually the worst way to resolve issues. It’s ok for some things like a wrong past address or a misspelled name. However, for serious issues like missed payments and fraudulent accounts, mail and online are much better ways to handle your dispute.

File A Dispute With Equifax Online

You can file a dispute with Equifax online here. However, be sure to read any terms of use before you agree to them. Companies can change their terms of use at any time. You’ll want to be sure you’re not agreeing to indemnify Equifax if something goes wrong. You’ll also want to be sure to follow the tips from above. Take screenshots of your submission. Also take screenshots of all the documents you’re attaching with your submission. This will let you show what you did and didn’t send to the company.

Check Equifax Dispute Status

Once you’ve filed your dispute, you’ll want to follow up on it. If you file online, then you can check their site for your dispute status. It will tell you if the information you’re challenging has been verified, corrected, or deleted.

If you’re using the phone, then following up becomes a bit more difficult. You’ll have to call again or check your credit report online to see if the information is still there.

Snail mail resolves many of these issues. Using certified mail means that you can be sure when your dispute arrived. It gives the company a timetable for how quickly they need to respond. Check the mail or call to ask about the status of your dispute. You can use the phone number listed above to check the status.

Your credit score is important. Don’t let false and harmful information cause you to pay more for loans and credit. Even worse, don’t let bad info on your Equifax credit report prevent you from getting the home or job of your dreams. Use this information to challenge negative and false information on your Equifax credit report. Protect your good name and your good credit.

FAQ

By ensuring that the information contained within your Equifax report is accurate, you can guarantee that your score is at its highest and that all of the information is accurate. If you notice an error on your Equifax credit report, the best option to have it altered or removed is to file a dispute. By filing a dispute, you are taking the right steps to ensuring the accuracy of your credit report while making certain that your score is not negatively affected by misinformation.

Filing a Dispute With Equifax

Equifax is one of the three main credit reporting bureaus that maintains a record of your credit history. This history can sometimes contain errors and in this situation, you will want to dispute the error directly with Equifax. Understanding how to file a dispute with Equifax will help you to ensure that the information on your Equifax credit report is updated and accurate. Refer to our other articles about how to dispute Transunion credit report items or file an Experian online dispute.

Contacting Equifax To File A Dispute

One of the concerns that consumers face is how to contact Equifax directly in order to file a dispute. Although there is an abundance of information available online, it can be challenging to get the answers you need. Learning how to contact the credit reporting bureau directly will assist you with getting the information you need accurately and on time.

Specific Disputing With Equifax

Oftentimes after reviewing the details of their credit reports, individuals have a specific question about how to dispute credit report items. Learning about how to complete specific disputes with Equifax can facilitate the process going forward.

Length of Time for a Dispute

After a dispute has been filed, it is typical for the individual to want it to be resolved as quickly as possible. However, there is a process involved in which Equifax must fully investigate the dispute in order to substantiate the debt or remove it entirely. Learning about the length of time that a dispute takes will help you to know what to expect from the process.

Problems With Equifax Disputing

During the course of filing a dispute with Equifax, it is possible to run into some issues. Learning about what to do when this occurs will help you resolve the problem quickly and effectively.

Removing or Cancelling a Dispute with Equifax

There are situations in which you may need to cancel a dispute that was already on file with Equifax. The credit reporting bureau can assist you if you need to cancel or remove a dispute that is already on file with them.

Checking on an Equifax Dispute

After you have filed an Equifax dispute, you will want to follow up on it to see exactly what the results of your dispute were. You can do so by contacting Equifax or looking up your case number to see if any updates have been posted. Learning how to check on your Equifax dispute will help you to find out the results in the fastest and most convenient way.

Emma Higgins

Emma has been helping people improve their credit scores for the past ten years and has written a number of credit repair companies reviews for us. Prior to that, she worked as a credit repair specialist and consultant for several of the best credit repair firms. She got into the credit repair industry after graduating with a degree in Finance before getting her MBA.