Learn to review your credit reports and dispute errors yourself.
You don't need to pay a credit repair company.
Step-by-step guides and dispute letter templates so you can review your credit reports and dispute inaccurate information yourself, directly with the credit bureaus. Disputing is free, and we'll walk you through it.
Guide available now as an instant download · App coming soon to iOS and Android
Good morningYour credit at a glance
Score you loggedSample
684
Self-reported · Sep 12
Utilization calculator28%
$1,400 of $5,000 in card limits
Guided dispute walkthrough
Step 3 of 5: Describe the error
Lesson
Credit utilization explained
Open letter templates
Checklist item doneGet your free credit reports
Dispute loggedSent to bureau by you · Oct 1
Illustrative app preview with sample data
How it works
Review your reports and handle errors yourself
Clear Credit Coach walks you through the same process anyone can use for free, one step at a time.
Get your free reports
Download your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Learn what's on them
Plain-English lessons explain each section of your report: accounts, payment history, balances, inquiries, and public records.
Spot errors
Use our checklist to look for information that may be inaccurate or incomplete, like an account that isn't yours or a wrong balance.
Dispute inaccurate items yourself
Use our letter templates and step-by-step walkthroughs to dispute inaccurate information yourself, directly with the bureaus.
Track your disputes and keep learning
Log what you sent and when, note the responses you get, and keep learning how credit works.
Disputing is free. You can do it yourself, and we'll walk you through it. Disputes are for information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Accurate, timely information can legally stay on your report, and the outcome of any dispute depends on the bureau's investigation.
Available now · Instant download
The DIY Credit Report Guide
A step-by-step workbook you can use today to read your credit reports, spot errors, and dispute inaccurate information yourself, directly with the bureaus.
48-page PDF workbook: how credit reports and scores work, and your dispute rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act in plain English
Annotated sample report and an error-spotting checklist
Step-by-step instructions for disputing with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, with mailing tips
10 editable letter templates (Word) for disputing inaccurate or incomplete information, identity theft blocks, follow-ups, and more
Printable dispute tracker to log what you sent, when, and the responses you get
Education only. Clear Credit Coach provides educational content and self-help tools only. We are not a credit repair organization, do not perform credit repair services, and do not contact credit bureaus or creditors on your behalf. We don't guarantee any change to your credit score or report. Not financial or legal advice.
Free download
Free: Credit Report Error Checklist
Not ready for the full guide? Start here. This printable checklist walks you through your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports section by section so you can spot information that may be inaccurate or incomplete.
How to get your free reports the official way
A section-by-section checklist for all three bureaus
Plus a few short emails on reading your report and how disputes work
Signups are handled by MailerLite. We'll email you the checklist, a few short educational emails, and news when the app launches. Unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.
Guided learning paths
Learn what matters for where you're starting
Whether credit has always felt like a mystery or you're getting ready for a big purchase, follow a learning path with clear explanations and checklists for your goal.
Learning path
New to credit
Learn what a credit score is (and isn't), what goes into it, how credit files get started, and the terms you'll see on your first credit report.
Learning path
Home buyers
Learn what mortgage lenders review, how to read your reports well ahead of time, and how utilization is calculated. Know where you stand before you apply.
Learning path
Car buyers
Know where you stand before you visit the dealership. Learn how hard and soft inquiries work and what to review before you apply for financing.
Learning path
Rebuilding
Had late payments, collections, or maxed-out cards? Learn how negative information is reported and how long it can stay, how payment history and balances factor in, and how the free dispute process works for errors.
How the app helps
Everything you need to do it yourself
The Clear Credit Coach app brings together plain-English lessons and practical self-help tools in one calm, simple place.
Dispute letter templates Premium
Do-it-yourself templates plus a guided dispute walkthrough for inaccurate information. You review every letter and send it yourself.
Learn how credit works
Short lessons on the basics, utilization, reading your report, how disputes work, and avoiding scams.
Track and organize
Log the scores you check and keep a starter checklist, like getting your free credit reports, in one place.
Score simulator Premium
Explore what-if scenarios to learn which factors scoring models generally weigh. Educational estimates, not predictions.
Planning tools Premium
A debt payoff planner, utilization calculator, budget tool, and mortgage and car-buying readiness checks.
Guided learning paths Premium
Paths for new to credit, home buyers, car buyers, and rebuilding, so you know where you stand before you apply.
Free vs. Premium
Start free. Upgrade when you want more tools.
The free version teaches the essentials, including how the free dispute process works. Premium adds dispute letter templates, a guided walkthrough, and more self-help tools.
Free
$0, free forever
Account and profile
Score log with a basic chart
Starter lessons on how credit works
How to read your credit reports and the free dispute process
Pricing coming soon. 2-week free trial, then billed monthly through the App Store or Google Play; cancel anytime in your store settings. The price will be shown in the app before you start a trial, and if you cancel before the trial ends you won't be charged. Premium tools are for education and planning only; they don't change your credit report or score.
Education only
Do it yourself. You stay in control.
Clear Credit Coach is built to help you understand your credit and plan your next move on your own terms. You decide what to do with what you learn.
Learn how credit reports and scores work, in plain English
Use tools to track, organize, and plan
Know where you stand before you apply for a mortgage or car loan
Dispute inaccurate information yourself, for free, with our templates and walkthroughs
No. Clear Credit Coach provides educational content and self-help tools only. We are not a credit repair organization, do not perform credit repair services, and do not contact credit bureaus or creditors on your behalf. We don't guarantee any change to your credit score or report. Not financial or legal advice.
Our guides, checklist, and upcoming app teach how credit reports and scores work and give you tools to track, organize, and plan. You decide what to do with what you learn. More about us.
What's in the guide?
The Do-It-Yourself Credit Report Guide is a 48-page PDF workbook plus 10 editable letter templates (Word) and printable dispute tracker worksheets. It covers how credit reports and scores work, how to get your free reports, an annotated sample report, an error-spotting checklist, your dispute rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act in plain English, step-by-step instructions for disputing with each bureau, what happens after you dispute, and how to spot credit repair scams.
It's $49, a one-time purchase with an instant download after secure checkout on Gumroad. The guide is educational content and self-help tools only: you decide what to do and you send any letters yourself, and it doesn't guarantee any change to your credit score or report. See the guide.
Do you dispute anything on my behalf?
No. We don't perform any services on your behalf, and we don't contact the credit bureaus or your creditors for you. Instead, we teach you how to handle it yourself. If you find information on your credit report that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, you can dispute it yourself, for free, directly with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and with the company that reported it.
The DIY Guide includes dispute letter templates and step-by-step instructions, and our free guide explains how to dispute a credit report error yourself. You decide whether to dispute, you review and edit every letter, and you send it yourself.
Do I need to pay a credit repair company to dispute errors?
No. Under federal law, you have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information directly with the credit bureaus at no cost, and you don't need to hire anyone to do it. Disputing is free. You can do it yourself, and we'll walk you through it.
If you do decide to hire a credit repair company, federal law requires it to give you a written contract and a 3-business-day right to cancel, and it can't charge you until it has performed the services it promised. Florida has its own rules too; see Florida credit repair laws.
What can I dispute?
Disputes are for information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, such as an account that isn't yours, a payment marked late that was on time, a wrong balance, or an outdated item that should no longer be reported. Accurate, timely information can legally stay on a credit report, and our walkthrough doesn't help you dispute information you know is accurate.
The credit bureaus generally must investigate within 30 days. The outcome depends on their investigation, and we don't guarantee any particular outcome. See common credit report errors.
How long does a credit bureau have to investigate a dispute?
Generally 30 days from when the bureau receives your dispute. It can be up to 45 days in some cases, for example if you send additional relevant information during the 30-day period, or if you dispute after getting a free report through AnnualCreditReport.com. You'll get the results in writing. See what happens after you dispute.
When will the app be available?
The app is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. Premium will start with a 2-week free trial, and the price will be shown in the app before you start; see the Terms for details. Get the free checklist to join our email list and you'll hear when it's ready. In the meantime, the DIY Guide and our free guides are available now.
Will using the app affect my credit score?
No. The app does not pull your credit. You enter scores you've gotten elsewhere, such as from your bank, card issuer, or a credit monitoring service. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and does not affect your scores.
Can I get my credit reports and dispute errors for free?
Yes. You can get free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, and you have the right to dispute inaccurate information directly with the credit bureaus at no cost. Our free guides explain how the process works.
Learn
Free credit report guides
Plain-English, step-by-step guides that cite the CFPB, the FTC, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
