95 seconds · 6 chapters

A made-up credit file. Nothing you do is saved.

Sample file: synthetic example

Credit report from

compared with

Read from SmartCredit. Northpeak Store Card is new.

Equifax: 624VantageScore 3.0
Experian: 595VantageScore 3.0
TransUnion: 605VantageScore 3.0

How to read this

Every difference is a lead to check, not a conclusion. Under FCRA §611 a bureau has to reinvestigate a disputed value, usually within 30 days.

≠ $86: This bureau’s value differs from the others. Only the odd value out is highlighted. When only two bureaus report and they disagree, both values are marked: check the account documents before picking one to dispute.
≈ Open: Worded differently or a normal reporting lag, so it isn’t flagged.
p. 9: Opens the uploaded report at the page the value was read from. A value shows its own page only when it differs from the account’s source page.

The scores printed on the report are shown for reference only: each lender uses its own scoring model, and a dispute is about whether the information is accurate, not about the score.

Accounts

1 doesn’t match across the bureaus, so it comes first.

A highlighted value marked not equal means this value doesn’t match what the other bureaus report. That’s the value to check or dispute.

2 fields don't matchIn dispute at EX

Credit card, negative.

Experian’s round 1 answer is due Sat, Nov 28.

Each field as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion report it. Highlighted values don’t match the other bureaus.
Differs	Field	Equifax	Experian	TransUnion
	Account type	Credit card	Credit card	Credit card
	Account status	Charged off	Charged off	Charged off
≠	Current balance	$0, differs from Experian and TransUnion, $615	$615	$615
≠	Date opened	11/09/2020	11/09/2020	12/14/2020, differs from Equifax and Experian, 11/09/2020
	6 more matching fields.

Account type
All 3
Credit card
Account status
All 3
Charged off
Current balance
Equifax
$0, differs from Experian and TransUnion, $615
Experian
$615
TransUnion
$615
Date opened
Equifax
11/09/2020
Experian
11/09/2020
TransUnion
12/14/2020, differs from Equifax and Experian, 11/09/2020
6 more matching fields

Comparison check

Date of first delinquency not on this report. This report doesn’t show the date of first delinquency, when the missed payments that led to this charge-off began. Your report from the bureau itself usually shows when the item is set to come off, which depends on that date.

Why it matters

The bureaus can’t all be right about balance and date opened, and the balance is what the account says is still owed. The Fair Credit Reporting Act says a bureau has to check a value you dispute, and fix or remove it if it can’t be verified, so dispute the value you believe is wrong.

4 more to check, with no values that differ

Matches at all 3

Auto loan, negative.

$185 past due.

Your TransUnion dispute for this account isn’t mailed yet. Open Disputes

Each field as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion report it. Highlighted values don’t match the other bureaus.
Field	Equifax	Experian	TransUnion
Account type	Auto loan	Auto loan	Auto loan
Account status	Open	Open	Open
Past due	$185	$185	$185
Comparison check Past due on a current account at Equifax. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current. Comparison check Past due on a current account at Experian. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current. Comparison check Past due on a current account at TransUnion. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current.
8 more matching fields.

Account type
All 3
Auto loan
Account status
All 3
Open
Past due
Equifax
$185
Experian
$185
TransUnion
$185
Comparison check
Past due on a current account at Equifax. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current.
Comparison check
Past due on a current account at Experian. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current.
Comparison check
Past due on a current account at TransUnion. This account shows an amount past due while also being reported as current.
8 more matching fields

Why it matters

The bureaus match, but the check above is about past due, and a past-due amount tells lenders the account is behind on payments right now. The Fair Credit Reporting Act says a bureau has to check a value you dispute, and fix or remove it if it can’t be verified, so dispute the value you believe is wrong.

Matches at bothIn dispute at EX

Collection, negative, not reported by Equifax.

$1,284 balance.

Your TransUnion dispute for this account isn’t mailed yet. Open Disputes

Experian’s round 1 answer is due Sat, Nov 28.

Each field as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion report it. Highlighted values don’t match the other bureaus.
Field	Equifax, not reporting	Experian	TransUnion
Account type	Not reported	Collection	Collection
Account status	Not reported	Collection	Collection
Current balance	Not reported	$1,284	$1,284
Comparison check Possible duplicate debt at Experian. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency. Open Wrenfield Retail Bank Comparison check Possible duplicate debt at TransUnion. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency. Open Wrenfield Retail Bank
5 more matching fields.

Account type
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
Collection
TransUnion
Collection
Account status
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
Collection
TransUnion
Collection
Current balance
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
$1,284
TransUnion
$1,284
Comparison check
Possible duplicate debt at Experian. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency.
Open Wrenfield Retail Bank
Comparison check
Possible duplicate debt at TransUnion. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency.
Open Wrenfield Retail Bank
5 more matching fields

Comparison check

Date of first delinquency not on this report. This report doesn’t show the date of first delinquency, when the missed payments that led to this collection began. Your report from the bureau itself usually shows when the item is set to come off, which depends on that date.

Why it matters

The bureaus match, but the check above is about balance, and the balance is what the account says is still owed. The Fair Credit Reporting Act says a bureau has to check a value you dispute, and fix or remove it if it can’t be verified, so dispute the value you believe is wrong.

Matches at bothIn dispute at EX

Credit card, negative, not reported by Equifax.

Reported as a charge-off.

Your TransUnion dispute for this account isn’t mailed yet. Open Disputes

Experian’s round 1 answer is due Sat, Nov 28.

Each field as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion report it. Highlighted values don’t match the other bureaus.
Field	Equifax, not reporting	Experian	TransUnion
Account type	Not reported	Credit card	Credit card
Account status	Not reported	Charged off	Charged off
Current balance	Not reported	$1,284	$1,284
Comparison check Possible duplicate debt at Experian. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency. Open Tollmark Recovery Group Comparison check Possible duplicate debt at TransUnion. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency. Open Tollmark Recovery Group
8 more matching fields.

Account type
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
Credit card
TransUnion
Credit card
Account status
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
Charged off
TransUnion
Charged off
Current balance
Equifax
Not reported
Experian
$1,284
TransUnion
$1,284
Comparison check
Possible duplicate debt at Experian. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency.
Open Tollmark Recovery Group
Comparison check
Possible duplicate debt at TransUnion. The same debt appears to be listed twice with a balance, once by the original lender and once by a collection agency.
Open Tollmark Recovery Group
8 more matching fields

Comparison check

Why it matters

Credit card, positive, reported by TransUnion only.

New at TransUnion since Oct 8.

2 more accounts match at all three bureaus: Corbel Student Loans and Ostrel Card Services.

Also on this report

A flagged detail appears at one bureau only. If you don’t recognize it, it may belong to someone else.

Detail	As reported	Bureaus
Name	JORDAN ELLISName, all three bureaus	All three
Address	123 SAMPLE ST, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62701Address, all three bureaus	All three
Address	88 UNKNOWN RD APT 4, DENVER, CO 80203Needs a check: Address, only at TransUnion	Needs a check: Only at TransUnion

Credit report fromNov 7Oct 8

Accounts

Also on this report

Credit report from