How to dispute a business credit report error

Pull your reports and read them line by line

Request your business reports from each major bureau you want to check and compare them. Errors are often in one bureau only, so check all of them.

Dun and Bradstreet, Experian Business and Equifax Business each keep their own files. Some provide basic information for free, while full reports may cost money. Personal credit reports are different and free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and these also matter if you signed a personal guarantee.

Read each line. Check the business name, address, phone, EIN, owner names and industry code. Then review each trade account, balance, payment history and any public records such as liens or judgments.

Check the dates of old items as well. Many negative entries age off after a set period, and an item that is older than it should be is itself an error worth disputing. Make a list of everything you find before you contact anyone so you can file one organized dispute rather than several scattered ones.

Identify the kind of error

Most errors fall into a few types: wrong identity, accounts that belong to a different company, incorrect payment history, wrong balances, or old items that should have dropped off.

Our overview of business credit scores helps you judge which errors affect you the most.

Collect your proof before you file

A dispute with documents is far stronger than one without. Gather bank statements, invoices, payoff letters, court documents and any emails showing the error.

Organize the proof by item. For a late payment, pull the invoice, the due date and the bank record showing when funds left your account. For a mixed file, send formation papers and a utility bill or lease showing your correct name and address.

Save copies in a folder. Black out account numbers except for the last four digits when you share documents, and never send original papers. This is the same set of records funders ask for, so keeping them tidy has a second benefit when you apply for funding.

If an item is wrong because of fraud, such as an account opened in your company's name without permission, say so clearly. File a report with local police or the FTC, and include the report number in your dispute. Also tell your bank so it can watch for related activity.

File the dispute with the bureau

Use the bureau's online dispute form or send a written letter by a trackable method. State the item, why it is wrong, and what the correct information is, then attach your proof.

Each bureau has its own process, so check its website for the current steps. A good dispute letter is short and factual. Include your business name, address and EIN, list each disputed item on its own line, and describe the correction you want.

1. Write the account name, number and the exact error.
2. State the correct information.
3. List the attached documents.
4. Ask for a written result.

Keep the confirmation number and the date. If you send mail, use a method with a receipt.

Write the way you would want to read it. Avoid anger, long stories and legal threats. A one-page letter with clear attachments gets handled faster than five pages of complaint.

Contact the creditor or data furnisher too

The company that reported the error can often fix it fastest. Write to its accounts team, attach your proof, and ask for a corrected report to the bureau.

Bureaus usually ask the reporting company to verify the item. If the creditor confirms it incorrectly, your dispute stalls. By contacting the creditor yourself, you can request a correction directly. Ask for a letter confirming the change and keep it for your records.

If the item is a lien or judgment, ask the court or county office for a release or satisfaction document and send that to the bureau.

Follow up and know what to do while it is pending

Check back with the bureau on a regular schedule, and if the error is not fixed, add a statement or escalate. Meanwhile, tell lenders about the error so it does not surprise them.

Bureaus set their own timelines, so ask for the expected date when you file. If the answer comes back unchanged and you still have proof, resubmit with more documents. Some bureaus let you add a short statement to the report.

While the dispute runs, a wrong item should not stop you from seeking funding. ROI Funder considers 500+ FICO, 6+ months in business and $20,000+ monthly revenue, and funders weigh bank statements and revenue heavily. Applying is a soft pull and has no obligation. See credit requirements for business loans for how lenders think about credit overall, and our guide to building business credit for the longer-term plan.

If your file is thin after the cleanup, our guide to building business credit shows how to add positive history.