How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report in the UK

Your complete guide to identifying and removing inaccurate information from your credit file, including defaults, missed payments, and identity fraud.

Quick Answer

You can dispute inaccurate credit file entries directly with the lender or credit reference agency (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Credit agencies must correct errors within 30 days. For serious breaches or refusals, use a Section 159 Consumer Credit Act notice or file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service. Errors can be removed entirely or marked as disputed.

How to Fix Credit Report Errors

1

Check Your Credit File

Get a copy of your credit file from all three agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) free via Clearscore, Noddle, or directly. Identify errors: wrong accounts, incorrect payment history, defaults not belonging to you, duplicates, or accounts never opened by you.

2

Dispute with the Lender

Contact the lender (bank, credit card company) and explain the error. Request they correct or remove the entry. Provide evidence (account statements, payment records). Lenders must investigate within 30 days and correct if you're right. Ask them to update the credit agencies.

3

Escalate to Agency or Use Section 159

If the lender refuses or the agency won't correct it, issue a Section 159 Consumer Credit Act notice to the credit agency (or lender). This forces them to respond within 21 days. Complaint to Financial Ombudsman follows if unresolved. Recovery includes damages and removal of the entry.

What the Law Says

Consumer Credit Act 1974, s.159
Grants the right to serve notice on credit agencies or lenders requiring them to correct inaccurate information. Agencies must respond within 21 days. Failure to correct or verify accuracy breaches your rights and allows damages claims.
Data Protection Act 2018, s.15 & UK GDPR Article 16
Grants the right to rectification of inaccurate personal data. Data processors (credit agencies) must correct errors within 30 days. Repeated refusal is a breach; you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and claim damages.
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)
Credit reference agencies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Breaches of information accuracy, dispute handling, or complaint procedures can be escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free investigation and compensation.

Common Credit File Error Situations

Defaults for Accounts Not Yours

Your credit file shows a default for an account you never opened (identity fraud). Contact the lender immediately; they should investigate. If fraud is confirmed, request the entry is removed. Report identity theft to Action Fraud and get a Cifas fraud alert on your file.

Paid Default Still Showing as Active

You paid a default debt but the credit file still shows it as unpaid or active. Request the lender marks it as "satisfied" or "paid." A paid default remains for 6 years but has less impact than an active one. Lenders should update within 30 days.

Duplicate Account Entries

Your credit file shows the same account twice (data entry error by the lender or agency). Request removal of the duplicate. Duplicates inflate credit damage and can prevent loan approvals. Agencies must remove them within 30 days.

Missed Payment Attributed to Wrong Month

Your file shows a missed payment in the wrong month or for a payment you made on time. Provide evidence (bank statement, payment receipt). Lender or agency must correct the date. Incorrect timing can lower your credit score unfairly.

Joint Account Affecting Your Sole File

A joint account you share with a partner defaults; their poor payment history is damaging your credit score. Request removal of the "associate" link if you're no longer jointly liable. You may need a Financial Disassociation Notice.

Identity Mismatch or Wrong Person's Data

Credit file mixes your data with someone else's (name/DOB similarity). Request the agency separates the records and removes misattributed entries. This is a serious data protection breach; you can complain to the ICO.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do defaults and missed payments stay on my credit file? +
Defaults and missed payments remain on your credit file for 6 years from the date the debt was first missed. After 6 years, they are removed automatically and no longer affect your credit score. However, they continue to impact your score during those 6 years, with older entries having less effect. Courts can extend this period if a County Court Judgment (CCJ) is issued for the debt.
What is a Section 159 notice and how do I use it? +
A Section 159 Consumer Credit Act notice is a formal demand requiring a credit agency or lender to correct inaccurate information within 21 days. You send it in writing to the agency's address. If they don't comply, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service or pursue damages for breach of rights. Section 159 notices are templates available free online; using formal language increases likelihood of compliance.
Can I get a default removed before 6 years? +
Defaults are automatically removed after 6 years, but early removal is possible if the lender agrees (especially if you can prove the entry is inaccurate or you've since repaid the debt). Some lenders agree to remove or mark defaults as "satisfied" if you pay the outstanding balance and request removal. However, agencies cannot remove a legally-valid, accurate default before 6 years; only the lender can consent to removal.
What if the credit agency won't correct the error after my Section 159 notice? +
File a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (free, covers all credit agencies). The Ombudsman investigates and can order the agency to correct the error, remove the entry, pay you compensation, and refund dispute fees. Ombudsman decisions are binding on the agency. If the agency still refuses, escalate to the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) for a data protection breach complaint.
Can I add a note to dispute an entry if it isn't removed? +
Yes. If you believe an entry is inaccurate but the lender won't confirm it, you can request the credit agency adds a "Notice of Correction" (up to 200 words) explaining your dispute. This doesn't remove the entry but tells lenders you've contested it. Lenders must consider the note when assessing credit, and it remains for as long as the disputed entry is on your file.
What if I'm a victim of identity fraud on my credit file? +
Report the fraud immediately to Action Fraud (online or 0300 123 2040). Register a fraud alert on your credit file via Cifas (free). Provide evidence to the lender and credit agencies that the account is fraudulent. They must investigate and remove the entry within 30 days if fraud is confirmed. Request a copy of your evidence report from Action Fraud to support your claim. Your credit file should be corrected within 30 days; you can claim compensation if the lender delayed correction.

Check Your Credit File Now

Use FightingBack's Credit Checker to identify errors and generate dispute letters automatically.

Start Your Credit Check