Credit education
What to do when a credit bureau says an error has been verified
Request the method of verification, send a direct dispute to the furnisher with your documents, add any new evidence, and file a complaint with the CFPB. If the information remains wrong despite clear proof, an attorney can evaluate whether the bureau and furnisher conducted the reasonable investigation the law requires.
Disputes
Your rights continue after a verification
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a reasonable investigation, not just a reply.
A verification that ignores documents you provided can itself be evidence of a violation.
The short answer
Request the method of verification, send a direct dispute to the furnisher with your documents, add any new evidence, and file a complaint with the CFPB. If the information remains wrong despite clear proof, an attorney can evaluate whether the bureau and furnisher conducted the reasonable investigation the law requires.
Understand the result
A verification means the furnisher confirmed its data. It says nothing about whether the furnisher reviewed your documents. Read the results letter carefully: sometimes an item is updated rather than verified, and the update fixes part of the problem.
Escalate methodically
Each step should be in writing and dated.
- Request the description of the reinvestigation procedure under section 1681i(a)(7).
- Dispute directly with the furnisher.
- File a CFPB complaint naming both the bureau and the furnisher.
- Consult an attorney about remedies under sections 1681n and 1681o.
Common questions
What happens after a credit bureau dispute?
The bureau sends you written results within five business days of completing the reinvestigation, along with a free updated report if anything changed.
Primary sources referenced on this page
Continue reading
When a dispute comes back verified
Why verification is not the end of the matter and what the next steps are.
Your rights under the FCRA
What the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires of bureaus and the companies that report to them.
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