How to dispute an incorrect balance on Experian
Your Experian report says you owe more than you actually do? That can inflate your credit utilisation and drag your score down. But before you dispute, check the “last updated” date — balances can lag by 4–6 weeks.
If it’s not just a timing issue, here’s how to get it fixed with Experian.
Key takeaways
- Free to dispute — your legal right under CCA s.159 and UK GDPR.
- Experian must respond within 28 days.
- Lender has 28 days to respond to Experian’s enquiry.
- Check your Experian report free via Free Experian account.
How to dispute with Experian
Log in to your Experian account and submit a dispute referencing the account and the incorrect balance. Attach your latest lender statement showing the correct amount.
Experian contacts the lender to verify. If the lender confirms the balance is wrong, they update it.
Experian-specific tips
Experian updates are monthly. After the lender corrects the balance, it may take one more reporting cycle (up to 6 weeks) to appear on your Experian report.
Evidence you’ll need
- Your latest account statement from the lender is the key evidence — it shows what you actually owe. Also gather bank statements showing payments made, payment receipts or confirmations, and the settlement letter if the account was settled for a specific amount.
- Upload through your free Experian account in PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or TIFF (max 5 MB per file). Remember that Experian updates are monthly, so check the “last updated” date on the entry. After the lender corrects the balance, it may take one more reporting cycle (up to 6 weeks) to appear on Experian.
Timeline
Experian contacts the lender to verify the balance. The lender has 28 days to respond. Balance corrections are usually straightforward and resolve within 2–3 weeks. Experian acknowledges disputes within 1–2 working days.
After the lender corrects the data, allow one more monthly reporting cycle (up to 6 weeks) for the updated balance to appear on your Experian report.
If your dispute is rejected
If the lender maintains an incorrect balance, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service with your evidence. You can also add a Notice of Correction to explain the discrepancy.
Experian’s complaints freephone is 0800 013 8888, or email [email protected]. Postal complaints: Customer Relations Team, PO Box 8000, Nottingham, NG80 7WF.
FAQs
Why does my Experian balance differ from my lender statement?
Lenders report to CRAs monthly. Your Experian balance may be 4–6 weeks behind your actual balance. Check the “last updated” date on the entry.
Dispute this on another CRA
Other disputes on Experian
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