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TransUnion Dispute? How to File a Dispute with TransUnion

Brian September 12, 2018

Have you recently accessed your free credit reports from all three major credit bureaus, and now see a problem with your TransUnion credit score? Is your TransUnion credit score lower than expected because there is an item on your credit report that needs to be disputed?

If you find an error in your TransUnion credit report — for example, a payment erroneously marked late — you need to contact the credit bureau that issued it. In this case you would need to contact TransUnion?

TransUnion assembles your credit report from information sent to it by your credit card issuers, lenders, public agencies and even landlords. TransUnion credit report errors can shave a significant number of points off your credit score, so it’s worth disputing the TransUnion errors.

You can also dispute Transunion errors online, by mail or by phone. Contacting TransUnion and getting the credit bureau to remove negative items can take time. If you do not have a lot of time and would like the help of an expert credit repair company, you can see our top-ranked list of the best credit repair companies here.

How can I spot errors on my TransUnion credit report?

Monitoring your own credit scores can help make sure that the information on your credit report is accurate and free of errors. It also can help alert you to any fraudulent activity, so you can act quickly to protect yourself if your account gets hit with fraudulent activity.

Conduct a thorough review of the main sections of your report (Hint: There are six of them):

  • Personal identifying information (name, birthdate, Social Security number, etc.)
  • Employer
  • Account information
  • Public records, such as bankruptcies and unpaid tax liens
  • Inquiries (when someone checked your credit)
  • Consumer statements, if you’ve ever submitted one

A TransUnion spokesperson says the inquiry and account information sections are crucial because that’s typically where indications of fraudulent activity or identity theft show up. An address you don’t recognize can also be a tipoff that someone is opening accounts in your name but diverting the card to a different address.

Other mistakes might just be human error: transposed numbers in an account, records belonging to someone with a similar name, a misspelling.

Note that most negative marks fall off your credit reports after seven years. If something too old to be reported still shows up, you can dispute that as well.

If you see mistakes, gather documentation supporting your case and file a dispute with TransUnion. The bureau has 30 business days to respond.

How do I dispute my TransUnion report online?

Over 75% of consumers dispute their TransUnion credit score by going online to file their dispute.

The online dispute form looks like this:

 

Transunion Dispute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might already have a TransUnion account, for instance, if you’ve previously frozen your credit or set up a fraud alert. If not, you’ll need to create an account and set a password.

Once you’re signed in, you’ll see your credit report with links to jump to particular sections.

Below the data reported, there are arrows pointing out links to actions such as “Request updates,” “Add employer” or “Request an investigation.” Click on whichever is appropriate and follow the instructions.

Once you’ve marked everything you want updated or investigated, click the “Continue” button and review the “investigation summary” page. You’ll have an opportunity to upload any supporting documents. Finish filing your dispute by clicking “Submit.”

TransUnion will respond by email; you can also sign back into your account to check the progress of the dispute.

How to dispute your TransUnion report by mail

You can send disputes by mail to TransUnion LLC, Consumer Dispute Center, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016. (Click here to see an example of a Dispute Letter)

TransUnion recommends including the following in your dispute letter:

  • The file number from your TransUnion credit report
  • Your Social Security number
  • Your date of birth
  • Your current address
  • The company name associated with the disputed item
  • The account number associated with the disputed item
  • The reason for your dispute: It’s not your account, you’ve paid the account, etc.
  • Corrections to personal information

In your letter, you will need to explain which item(s) you think are incorrect and why. If you’re disputing an account, include the account number. Send copies of all supporting documents. TransUnion will respond by mail.

How to dispute your TransUnion credit report by phone

You can dispute by phone at 800-916-8800. Customer service representatives are available weekdays, except major holidays, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern.

Have a copy of your TransUnion credit report handy before calling this number; the representative will need the file number. The representative will tell you how to send supporting documents, if necessary. The bureau may respond by email and mail.

What happens next?

If TransUnion agrees with your dispute claim, it will change the information in question on your credit report. It’s important to review your credit report again to make sure the negative items were removed. TransUnion will officially respond by sending you a copy of your new updated credit report (via email or physical mail).

In the event that TransUnion confirms that it’s reporting the correct information, you may need to talk with the creditor or collection agency that’s sending in the data. If the information is incorrect Ask it to correct the information it’s reporting to TransUnion.

Next, get in the habit of checking your credit report frequently to keep up with new data. In between your free annual copies from AnnualCreditReport.com, you can check your TransUnion credit report at NerdWallet as often as you like. Regularly monitoring your free report can give you an early warning of potentially score-damaging problems.

 

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