It’s important to check your credit report regularly, and if you find a mistake, you want to dispute it. It’s a smart move, but before anything else, just request a verification.


According to Credit.com, many consumers skip right to disputing when they might be able to fix the error with a simple verification:

According to Randy Padawer, a consumer education specialist for Credit.com partner Lexington Law, too many people start disputing items too early on in the process when they should be considering verifications as well. “Both Equifax and TransUnion allow consumers to request general item verification without going through the formal dispute process,” Padawer said. Item verification requests a creditor or credit bureau to make sure that the information about an account on your credit report is fair, accurate and fully substantiated. “Most of the cases we handle for clients begin with requests for item verification,” Padawer said.


If you come across a negative item you’re pretty sure is a simple mistake, you might be able to save yourself some time and headache by asking for a verification first. For more detail, head to their full post.

6 Mistakes People Make When Disputing Errors on Their Credit Reports | Credit.com

Photo by Kai Chan Vong