How Long Does a Credit Dispute Take? The Real Timeline Explained

Your credit score is one of the most important aspects of your financial well-being. However, that credit score can potentially be skewed if there are errors on your credit report. In a 2013 FTC study, one in five found errors on their credit report. In a 2024 study, 44% found at least one mistake in their credit reports, despite nearly half saying they monitor their credit score for erroneous marks.

If you do find an inaccurate mark on your credit report, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to dispute it and get it resolved.

WorkMoney put together a guide on credit disputes, how long a credit dispute can take, and the rights you have when disputing these marks.

Why Credit Disputes Are Important

Your credit score impacts more of your life than you may know. It can impact your ability to get housing, purchase a home, buy a car, and even get a job. 

By analyzing your credit report, you can potentially find negative remarks that may be negatively impacting your credit score.

The Law: Exactly How Long Credit Bureaus Have to Respond

The Standard Rule: 30 Days - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) gives straightforward direction for credit disputes: “a credit reporting company generally must investigate the dispute within 30 days of receiving it. They have five business days after completing an investigation to notify you of the results.”

During those 30 days, the bureau will alert creditors of the dispute, collect necessary evidence, complete the investigation, and inform you of the results. 

It could stretch to 45 days if you submit additional information on your dispute during the standard 30-day investigation window. The 45-day window also applies if you submitted a dispute after obtaining your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

What You Can (and Can’t) Do to Speed It Up

There are several ways you can potentially make the process a bit faster:

• Upload clear documents (proof of identity, payment records, statements).

• Make sure your mailing address matches your ID.

• Dispute directly with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

Once your dispute is submitted, it’s important to remain patient. Filing multiple disputes won’t fast-forward the process. Additionally, a company advertising that it can help expedite this should be avoided.

What To Do If You Don’t Get The Result You Hoped For

If your dispute doesn’t garner you the results you want, there are a few things you can do:

Try again with stronger evidence.
You can resubmit a dispute, especially if you have new documentation like payment records or written proof from the lender. Refilling without new information is less likely to work.

Dispute directly with the lender.
If the credit bureau verifies the account, contact the company reporting the information. Lenders are required to investigate and correct inaccuracies they report.

Add a consumer statement.
You can attach a short note to your credit report explaining the dispute. It won’t affect your score, but lenders who manually review your report will see it.

Escalate if needed.
For unresolved or serious errors, you can file complaints with the CFPB or your state attorney general, or speak with a consumer-rights attorney.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to your credit report, you have federal rights protecting you to ensure your score accurately reflects your financial situation. When you dispute potential errors, it’s important to have as much documentation as possible to fight your case. If you’re met with further issues, it’s important not to give up and continue advocating for yourself.