Equifax dispute guide
How to dispute a medical collection with Equifax
If a medical collection on your Equifax credit report is inaccurate or incomplete, the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute it and have Equifax investigate. This guide covers what counts as an error, what evidence to include, where to send it, what happens next, and a sample letter you can adapt.
What a medical collection is
A medical collection is an unpaid medical bill that a provider sent to a collection agency, which then reported it to the credit bureaus. Medical billing errors are common, especially when insurance should have paid.
The three nationwide bureaus have voluntarily changed how they handle medical collections: paid medical collections are removed, medical collections under $500 are not reported, and new medical collections are not reported until they are at least a year old. Other medical collections can generally be reported for up to seven years from the original delinquency. Federal rules in this area have been changing, so check consumerfinance.gov for the latest.
Errors worth disputing
You can dispute information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Common medical collection errors include:
- A medical collection that you already paid but still appears
- A medical collection with an original balance under $500 that still appears
- A collection reported before it was a year past due
- A bill your insurance should have paid, or that is still being processed
- A bill for care you did not receive, or for another patient
When a dispute is not the right tool
If the medical debt is yours, over $500, more than a year past due, unpaid, and correctly reported, it is generally accurate under current bureau policies.
Evidence to gather first
A dispute is stronger when it points to a specific error and includes copies (never originals) of documents that show it:
- Insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements
- Payment receipts or a $0 balance statement from the provider
- Itemized bills from the provider
- Letters showing an insurance appeal or claim in process
Also include a copy of a government-issued ID and a proof of address (such as a utility bill), and the section of your Equifax report with the item circled or highlighted. You can get free reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
How to send your dispute to Equifax
Equifax is one of the three nationwide credit bureaus. It keeps its own file on you, separate from Experian and TransUnion, so an error on your Equifax report has to be disputed with Equifax directly.
Option 1: by mail (best paper trail)
Send your letter and copies of your evidence by certified mail with return receipt to:
Equifax Information Services LLCP.O. Box 740256Atlanta, GA 30374Confirm the current dispute address on Equifax’s website before mailing.
Option 2: online
Equifax also accepts disputes through its online dispute center. Online is faster to submit, but mail gives you dated proof of exactly what you sent, which matters if you need to follow up or escalate.
What happens after you dispute
Day 0
The bureau receives your dispute. Send by certified mail with return receipt, or file online, and keep proof of the date.
Within 5 business days
The bureau must notify the company that reported the item and pass along the relevant information you provided.
Within 30 days
The bureau must complete its investigation. This can extend up to 15 more days (45 total) in some cases, such as when you send additional information during the investigation.
Within 5 business days after
The bureau must send you the written results. If the item was changed or deleted, you get a free updated report.
If Equifax verifies the item and you still believe it is wrong, you can ask how it was verified, send new evidence, add a brief statement of dispute to your file, dispute directly with the company that reported it, or file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Check insurance first
Before disputing, compare the bill to your insurer's Explanation of Benefits. If insurance should have covered it, ask the provider to rebill insurance and request written confirmation. That letter is strong evidence for your dispute.
Draft your Equifax letter in a few minutes
Upload your Equifax report, confirm the medical collection you believe is wrong, and Dispute Ledger prepares a bureau-specific draft for you to edit — then tracks the 30-day window and the response.
You choose every item and approve every letter. Results are not guaranteed.
Sample medical collection dispute letter for Equifax
Replace everything in brackets. Keep it short, factual, and specific to the error.
[Your full name] [Your street address] [City, State ZIP] [Date of birth] · [Last 4 digits of SSN, or full SSN if requested] [Date] Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374 Re: Dispute of inaccurate information — Medical Collection To whom it may concern: I am writing to dispute information on my Equifax credit report that I believe is inaccurate. The item is: Creditor / company name: [Name as shown on your report] Account number (partial): [Last 4 digits] This medical collection is reported inaccurately. [Describe the specific error, for example: "This medical bill was paid on MM/DD/YYYY" or "This bill was covered by my insurance; see the enclosed Explanation of Benefits."] Enclosed are copies of documents that support my dispute: [list each enclosure]. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I request that you investigate this item and correct or delete any information that cannot be verified as accurate and complete. Please send me the results of your investigation and an updated copy of my report. Sincerely, [Signature] [Printed name] Enclosures: copy of ID, proof of address, [supporting documents]
Frequently asked questions
Are medical collections under $500 still on credit reports?
Under the bureaus' current voluntary policies, medical collections under $500 are not reported. If one appears on your report, you can dispute it.
I paid a medical collection. Why is it still there?
Paid medical collections are supposed to be removed under the bureaus' policies. If it still appears, dispute it and include proof of payment.
What if insurance should have paid the bill?
Ask the provider to rebill insurance and get written confirmation. Include your Explanation of Benefits and that confirmation with your dispute.
How long does Equifax have to investigate a dispute?
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equifax generally must complete its investigation within 30 days of receiving your dispute, extendable to 45 days in some cases, and send you the results within 5 business days after it finishes.
Where do I mail a dispute to Equifax?
Dispute Ledger's current mailing address for Equifax disputes is Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374. Confirm the address on Equifax's website before mailing, since bureaus can change it.
Related guides
Each bureau investigates on its own, so check whether the same medical collection appears on your other reports:
- How to dispute a medical collection with Experian
- How to dispute a medical collection with TransUnion
Other Equifax dispute guides:
- How to dispute a collection account with Equifax
- How to dispute a late payment with Equifax
- How to dispute a charge-off with Equifax
- How to dispute a hard inquiry with Equifax
This guide is general educational information, not legal advice. Accurate information can legally remain on your credit report, and no dispute outcome is guaranteed.