Answers · UK 2025/26
How do I dispute an error on my credit reference file?
Contact the credit reference agency (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) directly to raise a dispute, providing evidence of the error. The agency must investigate within 28 days and either correct the entry, remove it, or explain why it stands; if you disagree with the outcome, you can add a Notice of Correction or escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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Errors on a credit file -- a missed payment that was actually made on time, an account that isn't yours, an out-of-date default, or incorrect personal details -- can meaningfully damage your ability to get a mortgage, loan, or even a mobile phone contract, so it is worth disputing promptly and thoroughly. **Step 1: identify exactly what is wrong** Order your statutory credit report from all three main UK credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) since lenders may report to only one or two, and check each entry carefully -- account status, payment history, dates, balances, and whether accounts genuinely belong to you. **Step 2: raise the dispute with the credit reference agency** Each agency has an online dispute process where you flag the specific entry and explain why it is wrong, ideally with supporting evidence (bank statements showing a payment was made, closure confirmation from a lender, or proof of identity theft if an account is not yours). Under the relevant data protection and credit reporting rules, the agency generally has 28 days to investigate. **Step 3: the agency contacts the data furnisher (the lender)** The credit reference agency does not usually decide the dispute itself -- it contacts the lender or organisation that supplied the disputed information, asking them to confirm, correct, or justify the entry. If the lender does not respond within the investigation period, or agrees the information is wrong, the agency should correct or remove the entry. **If the entry is disputed but not resolved: Notice of Correction** Where you disagree with the outcome but the lender maintains the information is accurate, you can add a short Notice of Correction (up to 200 words) to your file, explaining your side of the story -- lenders reviewing your file in future will see this alongside the disputed entry, though it does not remove the original data. **Escalating further** If you believe the lender or credit reference agency has handled your dispute unfairly or incorrectly, you can complain formally to the organisation first, and if unresolved after eight weeks (or sooner if you receive a final response), escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which can order corrections and, in some cases, compensation for material harm caused by the error (such as being declined a mortgage due to an inaccurate default). **Common genuine errors worth checking for** - Accounts that should have been marked satisfied/settled still showing as open or in arrears - Defaults remaining on file beyond the standard six-year retention period - Financial association with an ex-partner or former joint account holder that should have been removed (a "notice of disassociation" can fix this) - Fraudulent accounts opened in your name (identity theft) -- report to Action Fraud as well as disputing with the CRA **Practical tip** Check your credit file at least once a year even if you are not applying for credit, since errors can sit unnoticed for years and only surface -- at the worst possible moment -- when you apply for a mortgage or major loan.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.