Fix errors
Step-by-step instructions and sample letters for disputing errors with the bureaus and with the company that reported them.
Dispute went nowhere? File a complaint against a bureau, bank or lender and get a response on record.
Handle collectors
Five free templates: I don’t owe this debt, I need more information, stop contacting me, contact my lawyer, and here’s how to contact me.
Act fast. Some of your rights depend on responding within 30 days of a collector’s first contact. Keep copies and send by certified mail.
Protect your identity
Report identity theft to the FTC and get a personal recovery plan, with pre-filled letters for businesses, collectors and the bureaus.
Stop pre-approved credit offers in your mailbox for five years or for good. It has no effect on your score. By phone: 1-888-567-8688
Get a plan
Connect with a nonprofit, certified credit counselor for a confidential review of your debt, budget and next steps. By phone: 800-388-2227
Skip anyone who charges up front to “fix” your credit. Nobody can legally remove accurate information from your report, and everything a credit repair company does, you can do yourself with the tools above.
Keep reading
Last reviewed: Next scheduled review: January 2027