Guides › Debt and Buy Now Pay Later › Mistake on My Credit File: How to Fix It
Mistake on My Credit File: How to Fix It
You can get your credit file free from any of the three main credit reference agencies by asking for your statutory report. If something is wrong, raise it with the agency and with the lender that reported it. You can also add a Notice of Correction explaining your situation. If an obvious error is not fixed, you can complain to the ICO.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Getting Your File
Free Statutory Report
You can ask any of the three main credit reference agencies for a copy of your file free of charge: look for the statutory report. You do not have to subscribe to a monthly service. The agency generally has one month to respond, sometimes up to two more. source
Fixing a Mistake
Disputing It
Raise inaccuracies with the credit reference agency you got the file from. The original lender may be the source of the error, so you may need to contact it directly. The agency should reply that it has resolved the issue or explain why it could not. source
Notice of Correction and the ICO
You can add a Notice of Correction to an entry, a statement explaining your situation. If the agency and the lender both fail to fix an obvious inaccuracy, you may wish to complain to the ICO. The ICO does not decide financial disputes. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 1 monthCredit reference agency responds to your requestSometimes up to two months more
- 8 weeksFinancial Ombudsman complaintsLender has 8 weeks for most complaints, then you have 6 months from the final response
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Get your free statutory report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Step 2 of 5
Write to the agency about each mistake, with evidence.
Step 3 of 5
Contact the lender that reported it and ask it to correct its records. We do not take insurance or banking complaints as cases, but our free letter templates can help you write to the firm.
Step 4 of 5
If it is not corrected, add a Notice of Correction to your file.
Step 5 of 5
Complain to the ICO about an obvious error, or the Financial Ombudsman Service about a lender.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Lender's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, and ask it to put things right.
Financial Ombudsman Service
After 8 weeks with no final response, or if you are unhappy with it. Refer within 6 months of the final response.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
You do not need a paid credit monitoring service to see your file.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- ico.org.uk/for-the-public/credit Checked 13 October 2026
- fca.org.uk/consumers/buy-now-pay-later Checked 12 October 2026
- financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/expect/time-limits Checked 12 October 2026