Credit-file fraud-application dispute

Before you dispute — preparation

1. Pull your free statutory credit report from all 3 agencies at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The disputed entry may appear on one, two, or all three.
2. File an Report Fraud report at reportfraud.police.uk first. 15-20 minutes. You'll get a reference number to attach to all correspondence.
3. Add CIFAS Protective Registration if not done. £25, 2 years, prevents most subsequent fraud applications. Walkthrough.
4. Identify every fraudulent entry on each report. Date of application, lender name, amount, status (active / declined / withdrawn). Make a list.
5. Save proof of identity — photo ID + utility bill (under 3 months old) showing your address. The agencies may request these to verify your dispute.

Experian dispute procedure

• Online: experian.co.uk/consumer/dispute-credit-report
• Phone: 0344 481 8000 (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-4pm)
• Postal address: Customer Support Centre, Experian Ltd, PO Box 9000, Nottingham NG80 7WF
• Required: your Experian account, dispute form for each entry, proof of ID if not already verified, Report Fraud reference (if available).

Template letter — Experian fraud dispute

Dear Experian Customer Support,

I am writing under section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and Article 16 of the UK GDPR to formally dispute the following entries on my credit file, which were the result of identity fraud:

Account 1:
  Lender: [LENDER NAME]
  Application date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Account / reference: [NUMBER if known]
  Status: [ACTIVE / CLOSED / DECLINED]

I confirm that I did not make this application, and the information on file is inaccurate.

Supporting evidence:
- Report Fraud reference: [NFRC XXXXXXXXX]
- CIFAS Protective Registration: [active / pending]
- Proof of identity attached

Please:
1. Investigate the disputed entry under the 28-day timescale required by UK data protection rules.
2. Notify the originating lender of the dispute.
3. Suppress the entry from credit-search visibility while the investigation is in progress.
4. Add a fraud marker to my file once the entry is confirmed as fraudulent.

I look forward to your written confirmation of receipt and updates within the statutory window.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[DOB]
[Experian account reference]

Equifax dispute procedure

• Online: help.equifax.co.uk — "Disputes" section
• Phone: 0333 321 4043 (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-2pm)
• Postal address: Equifax Ltd, Customer Service Centre, PO Box 10036, Leicester LE3 4FS
• Required: Equifax account, completed dispute form per entry, proof of ID if requested.

Template letter — Equifax fraud dispute

Dear Equifax Customer Service Centre,

I am writing under section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and Article 16 of the UK GDPR to dispute the following entries on my Equifax credit file resulting from identity fraud:

[List entries as above]

Report Fraud reference: [NFRC XXXXXXXXX]
CIFAS Protective Registration: [status]
Proof of ID attached.

Please:
1. Investigate within the 28-day statutory window.
2. Notify the originating lenders.
3. Suppress from credit-search visibility while the investigation proceeds.
4. Add a fraud marker on confirmation.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME / ADDRESS / DOB / Equifax account reference]

TransUnion dispute procedure

• Online: transunion.co.uk/customer-service/dispute-information
• Phone: 0330 024 7574 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
• Postal address: TransUnion International UK Ltd, Consumer Services, PO Box 491, Leeds LS3 1WZ
• Required: TransUnion account (or via partners e.g. Credit Karma), dispute form, proof of ID if requested.

Template letter — TransUnion fraud dispute

Dear TransUnion Consumer Services,

I am writing under section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and Article 16 of the UK GDPR to dispute the following entries on my TransUnion credit file resulting from identity fraud:

[List entries as above]

Report Fraud reference: [NFRC XXXXXXXXX]
CIFAS Protective Registration: [status]
Proof of ID attached.

Please:
1. Investigate within the 28-day statutory window.
2. Notify the originating lenders.
3. Suppress from credit-search visibility during the investigation.
4. Add a fraud marker on confirmation.

Yours faithfully,

[NAME / ADDRESS / DOB / TransUnion account reference]

What to expect after submitting

1. Acknowledgement — within 5 working days, each agency must acknowledge your dispute.
2. Investigation — the agency contacts the originating lender, who has obligations to provide their evidence.
3. Resolution — within 28 days, you'll get a written decision: entry removed; entry kept (with stated reasons); or further investigation needed.
4. Fraud marker — if the entry is confirmed as fraud, a marker is added to your file. This requires future lenders to do extra verification on applications, materially reducing successful re-attempts.
5. Notice of Correction — if the dispute is rejected but you maintain the entry is fraudulent, you have the right to add a free 200-word statement to your file that lenders will see.

If the lender refuses to discharge the debt

The credit-file removal and the underlying-debt discharge are separate processes. If the lender refuses to write off the debt resulting from the fraud:

1. Lender complaint — formal complaint to the lender's complaints team, giving them 8 weeks to resolve.
2. Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) after 8 weeks (or if lender issues final response sooner). Free. FOS complaint generator.
3. StepChange Debt Charity at 0800 138 1111 — free debt advice on managing the disputed debt while the complaint progresses.
4. Court action — last resort. The lender must prove the debt is yours; if they cannot produce evidence of your authorisation (signature, consented application data, device fingerprint), the debt is unenforceable.

Under standard rules, the lender cannot pass the debt to a collections agency while a fraud dispute is active and being investigated.

Related ScamSupport pages

• Identity protection stack
• CIFAS Protective Registration walkthrough
• Post-scam quarterly + annual check routine
• FOS complaint generator
• Freeze your credit file UK