Fix Errors on Credit Reports

Protect your credit by correcting mistakes quickly and effectively

Credit reports are powerful tools—but if they contain mistakes, they can harm your financial life. Knowing how to fix errors on credit reports is essential to protect your score.

Whether it’s a wrong address, unknown account, or outdated balance, even small errors can lead to rejection or high-interest rates. The consequences are serious if not resolved.

In the UK, you have the legal right to dispute and correct any incorrect entry on your credit file. Acting quickly ensures your credit reflects your real financial behaviour.

The process to fix errors on credit reports is straightforward, but many people delay it. This guide will show you how to do it confidently and effectively.

Why Credit Report Accuracy Matters

Your credit report shapes how lenders, insurers, landlords, and even some employers see you. A single wrong detail can affect decisions, pricing, and your access to services.

Inaccuracies happen more often than you think. They may come from data entry errors, outdated accounts, or even fraud. Ignoring them could mean years of unnecessary damage.

Regular checks allow you to catch issues early. But spotting an error is just step one—you must act swiftly to correct it and keep your financial profile intact.

When you fix errors on credit reports, you ensure that decisions made about your finances are based on facts, not flawed or outdated information from third-party databases.

How to Fix Errors on Credit Reports (Step by Step)

To help you take action quickly, we’ve broken down the process into manageable steps. Each one plays a role in getting your file corrected and your score back on track.

Use these steps as a checklist, and don’t skip any. Fixing your credit report takes persistence—but the rewards are worth the effort, especially for your long-term financial health.

1. Request Your Credit Reports

Get your reports from all three UK agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. They may hold different data, so reviewing each ensures you catch every possible mistake.

These reports are free to access online. Download them and look for entries that don’t match your records. You need this view before trying to fix errors on credit reports.

2. Review Every Section Carefully

Go beyond balances. Check your name, address history, payment records, account statuses, and searches. A wrong postcode or an unknown lender may signal a bigger issue.

Be methodical. Highlight anything suspicious. Your case will be stronger if you gather details up front and present them clearly when initiating a dispute with a credit agency.

3. Identify the Source of the Error

Try to trace where the error came from. Was it a lender reporting incorrectly? Was your account mixed with someone else’s? Was it fraud? Understanding the cause helps you act.

Sometimes, the problem lies with the original creditor—not the agency. If that’s the case, fixing it at the source may resolve it faster and prevent future mistakes from appearing.

4. Gather Supporting Evidence

Back up your claim with statements, emails, ID copies, or anything that proves your side. The stronger your evidence, the faster the agency can fix errors on credit reports.

Organise everything in a clear folder or PDF. This reduces delays and makes it easier for investigators to understand and validate your request accurately.

5. Submit a Dispute with the Agency

Each agency has an online tool for submitting disputes. You’ll explain the issue, upload proof, and request a correction. Keep a copy of your submission for reference.

You should receive a response within 28 days. The agency will contact the creditor, review the evidence, and either correct the report or explain why no change is needed.

6. Follow Up and Escalate if Needed

If the agency fails to act or you disagree with the outcome, you can escalate your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You also have the right to add a notice of correction.

This gives you a voice in your own credit file. When you fix errors on credit reports, persistence ensures your information is not left in the hands of algorithms alone.

7. Monitor Your Report Going Forward

After the correction, continue monitoring your file monthly. Use tools like ClearScore or Credit Karma to stay informed and make sure no new errors are introduced later.

Proactive monitoring is how you stay in control. Mistakes can resurface, especially if they came from lenders that report data inconsistently across agencies.

Common Credit Report Errors in the UK

Some mistakes are more frequent than others. Knowing what to look for increases your chances of spotting them early and acting before they impact your score or applications.

Below are the most commonly reported issues in the UK, based on consumer complaints and agency data. Stay alert and know what each one might look like.

Incorrect Personal Information

Your name, address, or birthdate may be listed incorrectly. This can cause confusion with someone else’s data or delay applications due to mismatched identity verification.

Always double-check your details across all three agencies. Fixing these basic errors is often the first and easiest step to fix errors on credit reports.

Duplicate Accounts

You might see the same account listed twice—possibly with different balances or statuses. This inflates your debt level and confuses lenders reviewing your profile.

It’s usually caused by reporting issues between lenders and agencies. Flag these errors immediately so they don’t distort your credit history or utilisation ratio.

Closed Accounts Showing as Open

A paid-off card may still appear active, affecting your utilisation and risk level. Closed loans may also appear open, suggesting ongoing obligations that don’t exist.

Notify the agency and creditor. Include proof of closure, such as final statements. These details matter when trying to fix errors on credit reports successfully.

Missed Payments You Didn’t Miss

Perhaps the most damaging error—being marked as late when you paid on time. These entries can lower your score dramatically and stay on your file for years.

Provide bank statements or confirmation emails to correct the record. Don’t wait—each day the mistake remains visible is a risk to future applications.

What Happens After an Error Is Fixed?

Once a dispute is resolved, the agency will update your report and notify any lenders who requested your file in recent months. The corrected entry should now appear across platforms.

Your score may improve quickly depending on the severity of the error. For example, removing a missed payment or default can add significant points back to your score.

Lenders may also reassess your risk. If you apply for new credit, the improved report makes you a more appealing applicant. Your approvals and terms may also improve.

Remember: when you fix errors on credit reports, the benefits are not just score-related. You regain access, confidence, and trust in how your financial story is being told.

Also Read: Factors That Lower Your Score

Fixing errors is just one side of the equation. To keep your credit healthy, it’s important to understand what naturally lowers your score—even when your file is technically correct.

Our article Factors That Lower Your Score explains common mistakes like late payments, high utilisation, or over-applying for credit, and how to avoid them long-term.

Once you fix errors on credit reports, staying vigilant is the next step. New mistakes—or bad habits—can undo all your progress if left unaddressed.

We strongly recommend reading the full article next. It gives you a roadmap to avoid common traps and protect the credit profile you’ve just worked hard to correct.