Step-by-Step Guide
Consumer Credit Repair
Find errors on your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports, generate FCRA-cited dispute letters, and track bureau investigations from start to finish.
Before you start
- 1. Get your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Download the PDFs.
- 2. Only dispute inaccurate information. Disputing accurate accounts can backfire and be flagged as frivolous.
- 3. Plan for patience. Bureaus have 30 days to investigate after receiving your letter. Expect results in 5–7 weeks.
Go to creditedge.ai and click Get started. Enter your full name, email address, and a secure password.
Your data is private to you. Nothing is shared with bureaus until you choose to mail a letter. After registration, the Getting Started page tracks your progress through each step.
Navigate to Account → Service Agreement (or follow the Getting Started prompt).
Federal law (CROA) requires a written service agreement before CreditEdge can analyze reports or send mail on your behalf. Read the full disclosure, then sign electronically.
Go to Upload in the top navigation.
- Upload a PDF from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, or Credit Karma.
- CreditEdge auto-detects which bureau issued the report.
- Screenshots and scanned documents are also supported — AI uses Vision OCR.
- Start with one bureau. Add the other two later for full coverage.
Tip: AnnualCreditReport.com gives you the official reports. Credit Karma PDFs also work — the underlying bureau is detected automatically.
After upload, AI processes your report in about 30 seconds. Go to Analysis in the top navigation.
- Account cards — every tradeline, collection, and public record.
- Severity scores (1–10) — higher = greater potential impact on your credit.
- Metro-2 error flags — specific data-format violations, the strongest basis for disputes.
- AI strategy tips — which accounts to prioritize and recommended approach.
AI advisor chat: Click the chat icon on any account card. Ask about dispute strategy, FCRA provisions, Metro-2 corrections, or government loan options.
From any flagged account card on the Analysis page, click Create Dispute. CreditEdge generates an FCRA-cited letter addressed to the correct bureau.
| Letter Type | When to Use |
|---|---|
| FCRA Bureau Dispute | Wrong balance, wrong status, accounts not yours |
| Metro-2 Correction | Incorrect status codes, payment history segment errors |
| Legal Escalation | Bureau unresponsive after 60 days (Managed plan) |
| Hardship Narrative | Consumer statement for verified disputes (Managed plan) |
Go to Mail in the top navigation.
- Send via Lob/USPS — USPS certified mail with tracking (~$8–12). Starts the 30-day FCRA clock.
- Download and self-mail — take it to your local post office.
Before mailing, CreditEdge verifies: CROA contract signed, 3-business-day window closed, letter reviewed, mailing address verified.
Go to Disputes in the top navigation. Each dispute tracks through stages: draft → submitted → bureau responded → escalated.
| Day | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Letter mailed via USPS certified mail |
| Day ~3–7 | Bureau receives letter; 30-day clock starts |
| Day ~30 | Bureau must complete investigation and respond |
| Day 30+ | Follow-up letter (automated on Managed plan) |
| Day 45 / 60 | Escalation if bureau remains unresponsive |
| Outcome | Item deleted, updated, or verified as reported |
Managed plan ($89/mo): Automated follow-up letters at 30, 45, and 60 days. Legal escalation and hardship narratives included.
Tips for best results
- Dispute inaccurate items only. Disputing accurate accounts can backfire.
- Start with high-severity items. The severity score (1–10) helps you prioritize.
- Keep copies of everything. Save letters, mailing receipts, and tracking numbers.
- Be patient. The 30-day clock starts when the bureau receives your letter.
- Avoid new credit applications mid-dispute. Hard inquiries can lower your score temporarily.
- Check your mailing address. Bureaus respond to the address on your credit report.
CROA Disclosure: You have the right to dispute inaccurate information by contacting credit bureaus directly, free of charge. CreditEdge cannot guarantee score improvements, charge you before services are delivered, or perform any service you could do yourself for free. You may cancel within three (3) business days of signing with no charge.
CreditEdge is a credit repair organization under 15 U.S.C. § 1679a(3).