Usually 30 days. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a credit bureau generally has 30 days from the day it receives your dispute to finish its investigation. In some cases that stretches to 45 days.
How the clock works
Situation
Time the bureau has
Normal dispute
30 days from when they receive it
You send more information during those 30 days
Up to 45 days
You dispute right after getting your free annual report
Up to 45 days
Telling you the results after they finish
Within 5 business days
The clock starts when the bureau receives your dispute, not when you mail it. That’s why certified mail with tracking matters — it gives you proof of the date.
What the bureau has to do
•
Contact the lender or collector that reported the item
•
Review the information you sent
•
Correct or delete anything that’s inaccurate, incomplete, or can’t be verified
•
Send you the results in writing, plus a free updated report if anything changed
If an item is deleted and later put back, the bureau must notify you in writing within 5 business days.
What if they miss the deadline?
If the bureau can’t verify an item in time, it’s generally supposed to delete or correct it. If you don’t hear back:
1.
Check your report — the item may already be updated.
2.
Send a follow-up letter noting the date they received your dispute and that the deadline has passed.
3.
If there’s still no answer, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at
consumerfinance.gov or with your state Attorney General.
How DisputeLogic helps
DisputeLogic tracks the response window for every letter, reminds you as the deadline approaches, and flags it if the bureau misses it. When a response arrives, upload it and DisputeLogic explains what it means and your next step — including building a CFPB complaint when you connect MyFreeScoreNow.
DisputeLogic is an educational software tool. It does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee removals, score increases, or funding approvals.