In this article, Beverly Anderson, President of Global Consumer Solutions at Equifax, answers the question, “Can I dispute information on my credit reports during the Covid-19 pandemic?”

Yes, you can dispute information on your credit reports during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Talking directly to your lender or creditor is often the best option for handling disputes, however you can also contact each of the three credit bureaus. Just be aware that in either instance, it may take longer than normal to reach a customer service agent due to increased call volume.

Here is a brief summary on how credit reports are compiled. Credit reporting agencies receive information about your financial behavior from lenders and creditors with whom you have financial relationships. This information includes credit accounts and lines you have now or have had in the past, as well as your payment history, how much you’ve borrowed, any judgments against you and other details.

It’s a good idea to regularly check your credit reports so you are familiar with how your credit history appears on your credit reports, and to make certain that the information included is accurate.

If you believe there are errors on your credit reports, one way to handle disputes is to contact your creditor or lender directly to confirm how the questionable information is being reported. As part of the dispute process, it's a good idea to provide the credit reporting agency with all of the necessary documents showing that the lender or creditor has made a mistake in reporting your financial information to support your dispute.

If you believe certain information is being reported inaccurately, you can file a dispute with the nationwide credit bureau with which you noticed the discrepancy. If you would like to file a dispute with one of the other nationwide credit bureaus, such as Experian or TransUnion, check with them to determine their dispute processes.

If you’ve agreed to a special financial arrangement with your lender or creditor during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as deferred or delayed payments, ensure that agreement is accurately reflected on your credit reports. If you see something that doesn’t look right, reach out to your lender or creditor to confirm the details of your arrangement.

You may already know that there are multiple ways you can obtain a free credit report. Setting up one or more of these credit reporting accounts can help to conveniently initiate a security or credit freeze, file a fraud or active duty alert, file and manage disputes, and obtain credit reports throughout the year.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are offering weekly free online credit reports via annualcreditreport.com through April 2021. Review your credit reports to verify the information is accurate.