Question:
I recently found a negative item on my Equifax credit report (bill marked as unpaid & delinquent even though I had paid it). I disputed the item and Equifax has removed it. I’m just wondering if I’ll need to dispute the item with TransUnion & Experian as well, or if Equifax will notify them for me? Nigel, NYC
Answer:
Thanks for the question, Nigel. When you dispute an item with a consumer reporting agency (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) they’ll ask the creditor who supplied the item in question to provide proof that this item is accurate.
In your case they obviously weren’t able to do so, so Equifax was forced to remove this item from your credit report. Equifax doesn’t have a responsibility to notify the other agencies BUT the creditor who supplied the information in the first place (in your case whoever the bill was with) is legally responsible under the FCRA to notify any other agencies that they report to (Experian & TransUnion).
In reality, this rarely happens. So it’s up to you to dispute the item with the other two agencies. This can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s well worth doing to make sure an incorrect item is not effecting your credit score.
Got a question of your own? Get in touch, contact us. If you want to file a dispute, read our handy how to guide.