Duplicate Entries On Credit Report Can Bring Your Score Down

Reader Question: If something shows up more than once on my credit report does it bring my score down?

If you are referring to the same exact item being reported more than once (i.e., a duplicate entry on your credit report), then yes ... it can hurt your score. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens quite often. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it.

I did some research when answering your question, and I came across a web forum where a guy was discussing his experience with duplicate entries on a credit report. In the past, he had an overdue account that was sent to collection. It was reported twice on one of his reports (you have three different reports, by the way).

He did the right thing by disputing the duplicate entries with the company that produced the erroneous credit report. He also stated that his score went up 14 points shortly after the correction was made.

Here's something to keep in mind though. It's possible for an account to show up twice on your credit report, without necessarily being a duplicate item. For example, if I stop making payments on a store credit card, and they eventually write the debt off and turn it over to a collection agency, then I'll have one entry on my report from the store. Beside the account number for this entry, it will probably be labeled as "charge off." Now, if the collection agency also reports the debt (which they probably will), it could also show up on my credit report. It would have the same account number, but the status would say "in collection" or something similar. This is not necessarily a dupe entry -- it's the same account with two different statuses.

All three of the reporting agencies have a "dispute" section of their website for this very purpose. They are required by law to review all credit report disputes such as duplicate entries in a timely manner, and they are required to make corrections when the item in question is truly an error.

How to Dispute Duplicate Entries

When disputing a duplicate item through one of the credit reporting agencies, the first thing you need to realize is that you are not their customer. The people who request consumer data from them (like mortgage lenders) are their primary customers. You are just somebody they have within their data files.

I don't tell you this to be rude, but only so you'll understand the mind set that's at work here. The law is the only thing that motivates Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to make corrections to consumer credit data. And when I say "the law," I'm referring to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Here are the steps you would take to dispute duplicate entries on one (or more) of your reports.

• Gather the necessary information to support your dispute.
• Visit the website of the company (or companies) who produced the erroneous report. This would be either TransUnion.com ... Experian.com ... or Equifax.com.
• On the company's website, look for a link that says "dispute" or "online dispute." It should be pretty easy to find. FCRA laws require them to keep the dispute process simple and highly visible to consumers.
• Complete the online process and provide whatever information it asks you for. You can also dispute the item by phone or by mail.
• Be persistent. Follow up as needed and stay on top of them until they correct the duplicate entry issue.

Due to increased pressure from the government, the reporting agencies have gotten a little better about fixing their issues in a timely manner. But don't just sit back and assume they are doing it. Keep tabs on the process. Remember what I said about not being their customer.

I hope that helps you some. Good luck.

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• Writing a letter to dispute an item in your report