Yes. Regulation V requires lenders, collectors, and other furnishers to investigate many disputes sent straight to them, generally within the same time a credit bureau gets. But a direct dispute does not create the right to sue that a dispute through a credit bureau does.
You can send a dispute to the company that reported the information (the “furnisher”) instead of, or in addition to, the credit bureaus. This is called a direct dispute.
What disputes must be investigated
Under 12 CFR § 1022.43, a furnisher must investigate direct disputes about:
- Whether you are liable on the account, including identity theft or whether you are only an authorized user
- Account terms, such as the balance, payment amount, or credit limit
- Your performance on the account, such as payment status, payment history, or dates opened and closed
Furnishers do not have to investigate direct disputes about identifying information like your address or employer, inquiries, information another company reported, or disputes they reasonably believe come from a credit repair organization.
How to send it
Send the dispute to the address the furnisher lists on your credit report, or an address it designates for disputes. Include enough information to identify the account, what you dispute and why, and supporting documents.
What the furnisher must do
It must investigate, review what you sent, and report results to you before the deadline that would apply to a credit bureau, generally 30 days. If the information is inaccurate, it must promptly notify each bureau it reported to. If it decides your dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, it must tell you within 5 business days of that decision and explain why.
Direct disputes versus bureau disputes
The FCRA does not let consumers sue a furnisher for mishandling a direct dispute; those duties are enforced by government agencies. A dispute sent through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion triggers the furnisher’s duties under § 1681s-2(b), which you can enforce in court. Many people do both.
If a creditor keeps reporting an error after you dispute, a free case review can help, with no fee unless we win.
Related
Sources
- 12 CFR § 1022.43 (eCFR): direct disputes
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(8) and (c) (Cornell LII)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1) (Cornell LII)
Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.