A duplicate entry

Debts get sold. When a collector sells to another collector, or reports under two names, the same debt can appear twice on one report, and scoring systems read it as two debts. Duplicates are one of the cleanest errors to fix, because the evidence is sitting on the same page.

Identify the pair

1. On each report, find both entries and note the company names, account numbers, balances, and dates for each.
2. Confirm it is one debt: the same original creditor, the same or a similar balance, and the same date of first delinquency.
3. Decide which entry, if either, is the accurate one. Sometimes both are wrong in different ways, and the dispute should say so.

Dispute the duplicate

1. Use the dispute letter and identify both entries by name and number, so the investigator sees the pair rather than one item in isolation.
2. File separately with every bureau that shows the duplicate.
3. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate under FCRA Section 611, and must delete information that is inaccurate or cannot be verified.
4. Recheck the report when the investigation closes, and log the dispute in the tracker so the deadline is watched.

Common questions

A charge-off and a collection for the same debt both show. Duplicate?

Not automatically. They are different reporters and both can appear, but the details must agree. See the charge-off guide.

What if the duplicate comes back?

Dispute again in writing with both entries highlighted on a copy of the report, and ask for the procedure used to verify. You can also file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov.

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