Errors on 1 in 3 reports
Credit & debt
One in three credit reports has an error, collectors break the rules every day, and most negative items have a legal expiration date. Here is how to dispute errors for free, deal with collectors, and tell real fixes from TikTok myths.
- Credit & debtHow to dispute credit report errors for free (and get paid up to $1,000 when they don't fix them)One in three credit reports has an error, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you a free 30-day dispute process that bureaus must follow. How to pull all three reports for free every week, what to dispute, the exact letter, what to do when they "verify" a wrong item, and the lawsuit that pays statutory damages plus attorney's fees.
- Credit & debtMedical debt on your credit report in 2026: what must come off (and how to force it)The federal rule banning medical debt from credit reports was struck down in 2025, but three protections still apply nationwide, and 15 states ban medical debt on reports entirely. Which medical collections must be removed, how to get them deleted in 30 days, and what to do about a bill that should never have been sent to collections.
- Credit & debtThe 7-year rule: when late payments, collections, and bankruptcies must fall off your credit reportFederal law sets an expiration date for almost every negative item on your credit report: 7 years from the first missed payment for late payments, charge-offs, and collections; 10 years for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. How to find the real date, spot illegal "re-aging" by collectors, and get expired items deleted in 30 days.
- Credit & debtCredit repair companies vs. doing it yourself: what actually works in 2026 (and what's a scam)Everything a credit repair company does, you can do for free. Here is exactly what they do, what they can't do, what they cost, the legal rules that protect you (CROA), the TikTok "hacks" that don't work, and the four things that raise a score fastest. Plus when paying someone is a reasonable choice.
- Credit & debtDrowning in credit card debt? Settlement, credit counseling, or bankruptcy: what each really costs youAn honest comparison for people with $10,000+ in unsecured debt: negotiating settlements yourself, debt settlement companies, nonprofit debt management plans, hardship programs, and Chapter 7. What each one costs, what it does to your credit, how long it takes, the scams to avoid, and a decision rule you can apply in five minutes.
Credit reports, collectors, and debt: what the law lets you do
Your credit report affects loans, apartments, insurance, and sometimes jobs, so errors are expensive. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you tools that work, for free:
- Free reports: get all three bureau reports (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only official site.
- Disputes: bureaus must investigate disputed items within 30 days and correct or delete what they can't verify. If they don't, you can sue for damages and attorney's fees.
- Time limits: most negative items must come off seven years after the first missed payment. Collectors that "re-age" old debts break the law.
- Medical debt: paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, and those less than a year old aren't reported by the bureaus, and many states ban medical debt on reports entirely.
Before paying anyone to "fix" your credit
Everything a credit repair company does, you can do yourself with a letter and a stamp. If you're struggling with debt rather than errors, compare hardship programs, nonprofit credit counseling, settlement, and bankruptcy before signing anything: the guides below explain the real costs of each.