If you have checked your credit report and found something that looks wrong, you have the right to ask the credit reference agency to look into it and correct it. Errors on credit files are more common than many people realise, and leaving one in place can affect how lenders assess your applications.
This article explains how to raise a dispute with each UK credit reference agency, what a Notice of Correction is, how long the process tends to take, and what to do if the agency disagrees.
This article gives general information about the dispute process in the UK. It is not legal advice and does not apply to your individual circumstances. If you are unsure about your rights, free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper.
What can you dispute on a credit report?
You can dispute any entry you believe is factually inaccurate. Common examples include:
- A missed or late payment that you did not make
- An account that does not belong to you (which can be a sign of fraud or a data-sharing error)
- An account still showing as open when it has been closed
- The wrong balance or credit limit recorded
- A default or county court judgement (CCJ) linked to someone at a previous address
- A financial association with someone you are no longer linked to
You cannot ask for accurate negative information to be removed simply because it reflects badly. A genuine late payment or default will remain on your file for six years from the date it was registered. The dispute process is for correcting facts, not for removing entries because they are uncomfortable.
Step 1: Get a copy of your credit report from all three agencies
The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each holds its own data. A lender may report to one, two, or all three, so the same error may or may not appear on every file.
You are entitled to a free statutory credit report from each agency. You can also access your reports through free services such as Credit Karma (TransUnion data) or the free tier of Experian's online service.
Checking your own file does not affect your credit score. It uses a soft search, which is not visible to lenders.
A useful first step is to check all three reports before raising a dispute, so you know exactly where the error appears.
Step 2: Identify the entry and gather any evidence
Before contacting the agency, it helps to be clear about:
- Which entry is wrong (account name, account number if visible, the specific data point in error)
- Why it is wrong (for example, you have a letter confirming you closed the account, or a bank statement showing the payment was made on time)
- What you want to happen (correction, removal, or the addition of a Notice of Correction)
Keep copies of any supporting documents. You may be asked to provide them.
Step 3: Raise the dispute with the relevant agency
Each agency has its own dispute process.
Experian
Log in to your Experian account online and use the "Dispute" function on the relevant entry. You can also write to Experian at their registered address. Experian will contact the lender that supplied the data and ask them to verify or correct it.
Equifax
Log in to your Equifax account and use the online dispute tool. Equifax also accepts disputes by post. As with Experian, Equifax will refer the matter back to the data supplier.
TransUnion
Log in to the TransUnion consumer portal and raise the query through the dedicated dispute section. Written disputes are also accepted.
If the error appears on more than one file, raise separate disputes with each agency. They do not share investigation results automatically.
Step 4: Wait for the outcome
Credit reference agencies are required to acknowledge your dispute promptly and aim to resolve it within 28 days. If investigating the query requires them to contact the original lender, it can take a little longer.
During the investigation, the entry may be marked as "disputed" on your file. Lenders can see this marker.
You will receive a response telling you either that the entry has been amended or removed, or that the agency has investigated and believes the entry is correct.
Step 5: What to do if the agency disagrees
If the agency investigates and concludes the entry is accurate, you have two options.
Ask for a Notice of Correction
A Notice of Correction is a short statement of up to 200 words that you can add to your credit file against a specific entry. It does not change or remove the entry, but any lender who searches your file is required to read it before making a decision.
A Notice of Correction is particularly useful if:
- A payment was missed due to a one-off event, such as serious illness or redundancy
- An entry is technically correct but the circumstances were unusual
- You want to explain a financial link that no longer exists
To add a Notice of Correction, contact the relevant agency directly and provide the text you want recorded. They may review the wording before accepting it.
Escalate to the Information Commissioner's Office
If you believe the data is genuinely inaccurate and the agency has not corrected it, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO enforces data accuracy requirements under UK data protection law and can direct an agency to correct or remove incorrect data.
Before contacting the ICO, make sure you have completed the agency's own complaints process first. The ICO generally expects you to have done this.
Step 6: Check all three files after any correction
Once an agency has amended your file, check that the correction has been applied correctly. If the original error was reported by a lender, you may also want to contact the lender directly to make sure they have updated their records, so the same error does not reappear.
If the same inaccurate entry appeared on the files of more than one agency, check each file again after raising separate disputes to confirm each correction has gone through.
A note on paid services
Some companies offer to "fix" or "clean" credit reports for a fee. No paid service can remove accurate negative information from your file. The dispute process described above is free, and it is the same process those services would use on your behalf. Be cautious of services that promise to remove legitimate entries or that charge upfront fees for basic dispute work.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a credit report dispute take?
Each credit reference agency aims to resolve disputes within 28 days. Complex cases involving lender contact can take longer. If you have not had a response within 28 days, it is worth following up in writing.
Do I need to pay to dispute an error?
No. Raising a dispute is free. You can contact Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion directly at no charge.
What is a Notice of Correction?
A short statement (up to 200 words) added to your file against a specific entry. Lenders are required to read it before making a credit decision. It does not remove the entry.
What if the agency does not agree the entry is wrong?
You can ask for a Notice of Correction to be added, and you can escalate a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe the data is inaccurate.
Will correcting an error improve my credit score?
Removing inaccurate negative information may change how your file reads to lenders. Approval for credit is never certain and depends on the lender's own checks. The purpose of the process is to make your file factually correct.
Do I need to contact all three agencies separately?
Yes. Each agency holds its own data, and a correction at one does not automatically update the others.
Related guides and tools
For more background on how credit reference agencies work and what information they hold, the parent guide Credit Reports and Scores covers the full picture.
The loan repayment calculator may be useful if you are considering a credit application after correcting your file.
Sources
Information in this article draws on guidance published by Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and MoneyHelper.
- How long does a credit report dispute take?
Each credit reference agency aims to resolve disputes within 28 days of receiving your query. Complex cases, where the agency needs to contact a lender, can take longer. If you have not had a response within 28 days, it is worth following up in writing.
- Do I need to pay to dispute an error on my credit report?
No. Disputing an error is free. You can raise a query directly with Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion at no charge. Paid credit monitoring services may offer help, but they are not required. Be cautious of any service that charges you to raise a basic dispute.
- What is a Notice of Correction?
A Notice of Correction is a short statement (up to 200 words) you can add to your credit file to explain a specific entry. It does not remove the entry, but lenders are required to read it before making a credit decision. It can be useful for explaining a one-off missed payment caused by illness or redundancy.
- What if the credit reference agency does not agree the entry is wrong?
If the agency investigates and disagrees, you can ask them to add a Notice of Correction. You can also escalate a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which enforces data accuracy rights under UK data protection law.
- Will correcting an error improve my credit score?
Removing inaccurate negative information may change how lenders view your file, but the effect varies. Approval for credit is never certain and depends on the lender's own checks. Correcting your file means it reflects what actually happened — that is the goal of the process.
- Do I need to contact all three credit reference agencies separately?
Yes. Each agency holds its own data. An error at Experian will not automatically be corrected at Equifax or TransUnion. If the inaccurate entry appears on all three files, you will need to raise a dispute with each one individually.