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A credit report is a record of your past credit activity and current credit standing. It includes information related to your debts, such as payment history and the status of your accounts.
Because your credit report can impact your ability to achieve other financial goals, such as getting approved for another loan or even getting the lowest rate, you may want to remove inaccurate information regarding your student loans from your credit report. Doing so may improve your credit report history and current standing.
You can fix information about your student loans on your credit report by writing a dispute letter and submitting it to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Advice division.
- How to send a dispute letter
- Can you remove loans from your credit report?
- Common credit report errors
- How long does education debt stay on your report?
- Consider refinancing your student loans
How to send a dispute letter
Getting inaccuracies removed from or rectified on your credit report should be something you address immediately after discovering them. If you want to dispute a mistake on your credit report regarding your student loans, follow these three steps.
- Write a dispute letter: The FTC’s Consumer Advice division has a sample letter that you can reference. Your dispute letter should include your name and address and the mistakes you want fixed, and should either be sent in online, initiated over the phone, or sent by certified mail with a read receipt option so you’ll know when they receive the letter.
- Support your dispute: Highlight each piece of information that is inaccurate or incomplete. Send in a copy of your credit report that reflects these inaccuracies, as well as copies of supporting documents. For instance, if your credit report says you’re delinquent on your loans, you should send in proof of on-time payment submission.
- Follow up: The credit bureau must investigate your dispute within 30 days of filing. Regardless if they move forward with your dispute or consider it a dispute that they will not pursue correction on, they have to notify you in writing. If you do not receive feedback from them after the first month, follow up with the credit bureau and ask for an update.
Can you remove student loans from your credit report?
Your student loan amount and payment history will show on your credit report, so removing your student loans may seem like a good idea if you were accidentally late on a payment. However, accurate and correct information regarding your student loan history can’t be removed based on preference or prior to their normal expiration date.
There are specific situations when a student loan can be removed from a credit report and nearly all of them are related to inaccuracies.
Some examples of inaccurate information include:
- Missed or late payments (either during regular repayment periods or forbearance and deferment)
- Student loan default
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
How does inaccurate information affect my credit report?
Incorrect information can negatively impact your ability to gain approval for new credit, and potentially impact other areas of your life such as increasing your car insurance rates or decreasing your ability to secure employment. (Insurance companies may perform a credit check when you request a new policy, and employers might do the same when you’re applying for a job.)
Getting these mistakes fixed on your credit report should be a top priority. Even if some negative elements on your credit report are correct, removing the disputable information can help you regain control of your financial future.
Why you should keep student loans on your credit report
As long as you maintain a good standing with your student loans, it’s necessary (and helpful to your credit score) to keep them on your credit report.
Student loans are reported to the national credit bureaus each month from the time of your first disbursement until after the loan is fully repaid. If you keep making on-time minimum monthly payments, the positive standing can make your credit report more appealing in the eyes of other lenders and can be a great way to improve your credit score for years to come.
Common student loan credit report errors
It’s a good idea to verify that the student loan information on your credit report is accurate and updated regularly.
Also, remember that these mistakes can be made for a variety of reasons beyond your control, such as payment processing issues or confusion with reporting of loan repayment during the CARES Act administrative forbearance period.
If you see any of these following issues, you may have a valid reason to dispute the report:
- Closed accounts that are still reported as open
- Inaccurate payment reporting
- Incorrect status reported
- Loans listed as delinquent that shouldn’t be
- Loans listed as in default that shouldn’t be
- Individual loans displayed multiple times
- Loans listed under your name that you didn’t take out
Check Out: Hard and Soft Credit Inquiries: How to Get Rates Without Affecting Your Credit Score
How long do student loans stay on your credit report?
All defaulted or delinquent student loans will remain on a credit report for a period of seven years, according to Experian. The seven-year timetable begins on the date when the debt is first late or missed. If you rehabilitate your loan, the default will be removed from your credit report. However, student loans in good standing will also remain on your credit report.
Keep Reading: What Happens When You Default on a Student Loan
Consider refinancing your student loans
Some borrowers have trouble affording their student loan payments and many are unable to qualify for federal repayment plans that reduce or forgive their debts. If you have private student loans, you likely have even fewer relief options.
If you can get or keep your federal and private student loans current, make on-time payments toward them, and improve your credit report, you could access a worthwhile option. Student loan refinancing could offer you a lower monthly payment, a lower interest rate, or a different loan term. Refinancing isn’t right for every borrower, however. For instance, it permanently strips federal loans of their government-exclusive safeguards.
Learn More: When Refinancing Is a Good Idea and When to Reconsider
If you think, refinancing could be a good solution, here are the steps to make it happen:
- Gather your loan information: Before shopping for lenders, gather all of your student loan information including servicers, loan terms, outstanding balances, and interest rates so you have a full picture of your current situation.
- Understand federal loan benefits: If you refinance your federal student loans into private loans, you’ll lose eligibility for federal benefits. Consider all of your options, and weigh the pros and cons before refinancing. In most cases, it’s better to consolidate your federal loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan.
- Compare student loan refinance lenders: Because each lender may offer you a different term length, discounts, or interest rate, it’s important to compare multiple lenders to see which can benefit you most.
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5.32%+
4.75%+
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
7.04%+1
6.49%+1
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
6.99%+2
6.99%+2
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
8.05%+5
6.0%+5
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
5.28%+3
5.48%+3
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
8.51%+4
5.85%+4
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
5.53%+
5.49%+
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
N/A
6.2%+
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7.12%+
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11.19%+8
7.620%+
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14.520%+8
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
N/A
6.34%+
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