Credit3 min read · Updated 17 October 2026
How to fix an error on your credit report: the dispute steps and deadline
Found a wrong account or late payment on your CIBIL, Experian, Equifax or CRIF report? The steps to raise a dispute, the 30-day limit and the ₹100 a day compensation.
First, get your report and find the error
Each bureau (CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark) gives one free full credit report a year. Look for accounts that are not yours, wrong balances, loans that are paid but show as open, late payments you did not make, and duplicate accounts. Our Loan report reads your credit report in your browser and points out things to check. See how to get your free report.
The steps to raise a dispute
- Collect proof. A no-dues certificate, a closure letter, payment receipts or bank statements.
- Raise the dispute on the bureau's website, choosing the account and the error. Give an accurate bank account for any compensation.
- Tell the lender too. It must send the corrected information to the bureau, so write to its grievance email as well.
- Note the dispute ID and the service request number.
- Check the report again after the update. If the same error shows on another bureau, dispute it there too.
The 30-day deadline and ₹100 a day
Under the framework, the lender has 21 calendar days to send updated information, and the bureau has the remaining 9 days to resolve the dispute, so the whole thing should close in 30 days. If it takes longer, you are entitled to ₹100 for each day of delay, shared between the lender and the bureau based on who was late. The compensation is credited to the bank account you gave, usually within five working days of resolution. This applies to disputes raised on or after 26 April 2024.
If it is not fixed
Escalate to the lender's nodal officer and then to the bank's internal ombudsman. If you still get no answer, you can complain to the RBI Ombudsman through the RBI's complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.
Common questions
How long does a credit report dispute take?
It should be resolved within 30 days: 21 days for the lender to send updated data and up to 9 more for the bureau. Delays beyond that carry ₹100 a day in compensation.
Is it free to raise a dispute?
Yes. Bureaus accept disputes without a fee.
Will an error fix raise my score?
It can, if the error was lowering it. The score updates once the correction is made, though it may take a few weeks to show.
What if the lender says the entry is correct?
Ask for a written explanation and the account statement. If you disagree, escalate to the lender's nodal officer, then the bank's internal ombudsman and the RBI Ombudsman.