Errors on credit reports are more common than most people assume — a misreported balance, an account that isn't yours, or an out-of-date address can all quietly drag down your score. The good news is that UK consumers have a clear legal right to have genuine errors corrected.
Common types of credit report errors
- Incorrect account status — for example, an account shown as in arrears when payments have actually been maintained
- Accounts that aren't yours — sometimes due to a data-matching mix-up with someone of a similar name or address, or in more serious cases, identity fraud
- Outdated personal details — an old address still listed as current, or incorrect name spellings
- Financial associations that no longer apply — a former joint account holder (ex-partner, former flatmate) still linked to your file, potentially dragging your score down based on their credit behaviour
- Closed accounts still shown as open, or incorrect balances on genuinely closed accounts
- Duplicate entries for the same account, sometimes appearing as two separate debts
Step-by-step: how to dispute an error
- Identify the error precisely. Note the exact account, agency, and what specifically is wrong — vague disputes are harder to investigate.
- Gather supporting evidence where possible — bank statements showing payments were made, closure confirmation letters, or anything else that supports your version of events.
- Raise the dispute directly with the credit reference agency (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion, whichever shows the error) — each has a formal online or written dispute process.
- The agency must investigate, typically contacting the lender who reported the information to verify it, usually within 28 days under UK data protection rules.
- If found genuinely inaccurate, the information must be corrected or removed. If the investigation upholds the original data, you can request a "Notice of Correction" — a short statement in your own words attached to the entry, explaining your side, which future lenders will see.
What if the dispute isn't resolved satisfactorily?
If you remain unhappy with the outcome, you can escalate a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, who can independently investigate disputes between consumers and financial businesses, including credit reference agencies and lenders, free of charge.
Disconnecting from a former partner's financial history
If you have a financial association with someone you're no longer connected to — a former joint account, joint mortgage, or joint loan that has since been closed or settled — you can request a "notice of disassociation" from the credit reference agencies once the joint financial link genuinely no longer exists, which removes that person's credit behaviour from influencing your own file going forward.
How long does the correction process take?
Under UK data protection law, credit reference agencies generally have 28 days to investigate a dispute. If they need more time, they must inform you and explain why. Once corrected, the update is usually reflected relatively quickly, though it's worth checking your report again a few weeks later to confirm the change has taken effect.
Preventing future errors
- Check your credit report periodically (at least a few times a year) so you catch errors early rather than only when applying for credit
- Keep your address up to date with all lenders when you move, and update the electoral roll promptly
- Formally close accounts you're no longer using, rather than simply leaving them dormant, and keep confirmation of closure
Worth reading next: our guide on How to Check Your Credit Score for Free in the UK, and How the Electoral Roll Impacts Borrowing Eligibility.
The bottom line
You have a clear legal right to accurate information on your credit file, and the dispute process — while it takes a little time and organisation — is free and genuinely effective for correcting real errors. Given how much even a single inaccurate entry can affect your access to the lowest rates, it's well worth the effort to check and correct your report properly.