Why credit history can't be fixed in a week
Average timelines for small, medium and large cases from our experience, the first results and what can be sped up.
Why "in a week" doesn't happen
The bureau verifies every disputed entry with the source — the bank, collector or dealer — and waits for its response. We send disputes to all bureaus where the entry appears at once and correspond with each of them. That is why the first changes are visible in weeks, not days, and a full case goes in rounds.
Average timelines in our cases
- Small cases — two or three accounts, hard inquiries, data errors: from one to three months.
- Medium cases — several entries at several bureaus, collections, charge-offs: from one to six months.
- Large cases — many entries, repeat disputes, preparation for financing: up to a year.
These are the company's averaged timelines. The result for a specific entry depends on the bank, the amount owed, the account type and how quickly the sources respond: sometimes everything is resolved faster, sometimes the entry has to be disputed again.
In small cases the first removed entries usually appear after the first round of responses — in two to six weeks. For Alexander M. four entries took 135 days, for David A. together with a credit boost — 140.
What can be done quickly
What works fast is what doesn't require a dispute: lowering card utilization (effect within one reporting cycle), a credit boost via authorized-user lines (also one cycle), correcting the address and spelling of the name. That's why in our cases the "fast" steps go in parallel with disputes.
Want to know the real timeline for your report? Send it to us — we'll review it for free within 24 hours during business hours.