How to dispute an item on Equifax (the FCRA Section 611 process)
Written by Marcelo Fernández, Founder of Loosn
In short
File a written dispute with Equifax that names the account as it appears on your Equifax report, states which reported field is inaccurate, and says what the correct information is. Under FCRA Section 611 that dispute starts a 30-day investigation clock, extendable to 45 days if you send additional information while the investigation runs. The mailing address is in the first section below.
Under FCRA Section 611, a dispute you file puts the bureau on a 30-day investigation clock, and the wording and documentation of your letter are what that investigation works from. Loosn drafts FCRA-cited letters — Section 611 references, the 30-day investigation requirement, certified-mail framing — and you stay the sender of record on every envelope. You may also dispute inaccurate information directly with the credit bureaus, free of charge. Only the credit bureau or the furnisher can change what appears on your report, and accurate negative information can legally remain.
Where do you mail an Equifax dispute?
P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256. Use certified mail with return receipt — proof of delivery is what anchors the start of the 30-day FCRA investigation window.
What does Equifax have to do under FCRA Section 611?
Under FCRA Section 611, within 30 days of receipt Equifax must investigate the disputed item, contact the original creditor (the furnisher), and either verify the item or delete or modify it. If they verify, they must send you the method of verification on request. If they cannot verify, Section 611 requires them to remove the item from your file and notify Experian and TransUnion.
How does Equifax process a dispute?
Equifax routes disputes through the e-OSCAR system, which matches the dispute against the record the furnisher reports. When a dispute names a specific inconsistency — wrong date, wrong balance, wrong open-date, missing original-creditor name — there is a concrete field to reconcile rather than a general objection, and the item goes to manual review. From there FCRA Section 611 governs: the furnisher either substantiates what it reports within the 30-day window, or Section 611 requires the bureau to delete or modify the item. What the furnisher can produce, and what the bureau concludes from it, varies case by case.
How does Loosn write the Equifax letter?
Loosn AI reads your report, identifies disputable items, and generates a letter that cites FCRA Section 611, the 30-day investigation requirement, and (where applicable) Section 623(a)(8) requesting furnisher-side reinvestigation. Every letter cites the consumer rights you are exercising and is addressed to the correct Equifax mailing address. You review, sign, and stay the sender of record; on Pro+Auto-Send, Lob.com prints and certified-mails it at your instruction, at provider cost.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does Equifax take to respond?
- 30 days from the date Equifax receives your dispute (45 days if you submit additional documentation during the investigation). Certified mail with return receipt is the only way to prove the start date.
- Can I dispute an Equifax item online?
- Yes — both channels are valid, and you may dispute directly with the bureaus free of charge. The practical difference is documentation: online disputes are routed through e-OSCAR and can be resolved by automated matching, while certified mail gives you a delivery-confirmed start date for the 30-day FCRA clock and a paper trail of exactly what you sent.
- What if Equifax says my dispute is 'frivolous'?
- Under FCRA Section 611(a)(3) a bureau may treat a dispute as frivolous if it lacks specificity. Loosn's AI generates item-specific disputes with cited reasoning, so each letter states which information you are disputing and why. If they still mark frivolous, Loosn AI drafts a follow-up letter citing FCRA Section 623(a)(8) and demanding furnisher-side verification.
Related guides
How to dispute an item on Experian (the FCRA Section 611 process)
How Experian takes disputes, what the 30-day window covers, and what a method-of-verification request is for.
How to dispute an item on TransUnion (and why round two matters here)
TransUnion's process, and why a second round asks a different question than the first.
How to remove a collection from your credit report
What a collection account records, what the furnisher has to be able to substantiate, and what the FCRA lets you ask for.