5 Common Credit Report Errors
And How to Fix Them
Your credit score might be suffering from mistakes you didn’t even make.
Your credit report is more than just numbers—it’s a summary of your financial reputation. Lenders, landlords, and even employers may use it to make important decisions about you. But what if that report has errors? Unfortunately, credit report mistakes are more common than people think.
1. Duplicate Accounts
Duplicate accounts appear when the same debt or credit line is mistakenly listed more than once on your report. This can happen if a lender reports to multiple bureaus slightly differently, or if data processing glitches cause the same account to show up twice. The result? It looks like you have more open accounts or debt than you actually do, which can raise your credit utilization ratio and lower your score.
How to fix it: Review your credit report line by line. If you spot two identical accounts with the same balances and payment history, dispute the duplicate with the credit bureau. Attach proof, such as account statements, and request they remove the extra listing. Credit Sister can assist you in preparing and submitting that dispute effectively.
2. Incorrect Payment History
Payment history makes up the largest portion of your credit score—around 35%. A single wrongly reported late payment can seriously drag your score down and stay on your report for up to seven years. This often happens due to clerical errors or timing issues with payments being posted.
How to fix it: If you’ve made your payments on time but see a late mark, reach out to the creditor with your payment receipts or bank statements showing the on-time payment. Once they acknowledge the mistake, they can submit a correction to the bureaus. If they don’t respond, you can also file a dispute directly with the credit bureaus and provide your proof.
3. Outdated Negative Information
Negative items like collections, charge-offs, or missed payments are legally required to drop off your credit report after a certain period, typically seven years. Some bankruptcies may stay for ten. But sometimes these items linger due to data not being updated or re-reported incorrectly.
How to fix it: Know your dates. If you find a negative item that should have expired, calculate the reporting limit from the date of first delinquency. If the item is still showing beyond that period, file a dispute with the credit bureau and cite the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rules. You can also include a copy of your report with the outdated item highlighted to speed up the process.
4. Incorrect Account Status
Credit reports can incorrectly show the status of accounts—for instance, an account you voluntarily closed could be listed as “closed by creditor,” which could suggest that you were denied or cut off. This mislabeling can hurt your perceived creditworthiness and raise red flags to future lenders.
How to fix it: First, check your account status details with the lender. If it’s incorrect, request that they update their report with the correct closure reason. Follow up with a dispute to the bureau including written confirmation from the creditor, and ask for the status to be changed to “closed at consumer’s request.”
5. Identity Errors
These occur when accounts that aren’t yours appear on your report due to similar names, Social Security numbers, or outright identity theft. You might see accounts opened in other states, unknown addresses, or debts you’ve never seen before.
How to fix it: Pull your credit reports from all three major bureaus and flag any accounts you don’t recognize. File disputes immediately, and include a police report if you suspect fraud. Consider freezing your credit while the situation is resolved. Credit Sister also provides support for clients facing identity-related errors with hands-on guidance and communication assistance.
Final Thoughts
You have the right to a fair and accurate credit report. Monitoring it regularly and knowing how to fix common issues can save you money, improve your score, and protect your future. If you’re unsure about handling disputes on your own or just want expert support to move faster, Credit Sister is here to help every step of the way.