# How to Dispute an Eviction on a Screening Report > Step-by-step FCRA dispute: get your report, find the screening company, file, and correct errors. Free Texas guide. URL: https://evictionfriendlyapartments.com/guide/how-to-dispute-an-eviction-on-your-screening-report/ Last-Modified: 2026-07-10 If your eviction screening report contains an error — wrong balance status, incorrect disposition, expired records — the Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to dispute it. Screening companies must investigate within 30 days and correct verified errors. This guide walks through the process step by step. ## Step 1: Get the adverse action notice If you were just denied for an apartment, the landlord is required by the FCRA to provide an adverse action notice within 30 days. This notice must name the screening company that produced the report leading to the denial. If you didn’t receive one, request it in writing. The notice will typically include: - Name of the screening company - Contact information (mailing address, phone, sometimes web portal) - Your right to a free copy of the report within 60 days - Your right to dispute inaccurate information Common Texas screening companies you might see on the notice: SafeRent (a RealPage product), CoreLogic, LexisNexis, TransUnion SmartMove, RentGrow (Yardi), Yardi ScreeningWorks, AppFolio Tenant Screening, Experian RentBureau. ![Adverse action notice with screening company contact info](/images/misc/adverse-action-notice-letter-with-screening-compan.webp) ## Step 2: Pull your report Request a free copy of your report from the screening company named on the notice. You have 60 days from the denial to make this request. Each screening company has its own request process: - **SafeRent (RealPage)**: request via SafeRent Solutions consumer portal - **CoreLogic**: request via CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions consumer file request - **LexisNexis**: LexisNexis Personal Reports portal - **TransUnion SmartMove**: TransUnion consumer disclosure request - **Experian RentBureau**: Experian consumer disclosure request You may need to verify your identity with SSN, address history, and date of birth. ## Step 3: Review for disputable errors Read the report carefully. Common eviction-related errors that are disputable: **Balance status errors** - Report shows “unpaid balance” but you paid — dispute with proof of payment - Report shows “collections” but debt is with the landlord directly — dispute - Report shows a balance amount higher than actual — dispute **Disposition errors** - Report shows “judgment for plaintiff” but case was dismissed — dispute with court order - Report shows filing as active but case was nonsuited — dispute - Report doesn’t note dismissal on a clearly dismissed case — dispute **Identity errors** - Filing belongs to another person with a similar name — dispute - Filing is on a former address you didn’t live at — dispute **Age / retention errors** - Filing is over 7 years old but still showing — dispute (per 15 U.S.C. § 1681c) **Not disputable**: a valid, accurate, recent eviction filing. You can’t dispute the existence of an eviction that actually happened. ## Step 4: File the written dispute Send a written dispute to the screening company. Most accept online, mail, or fax. **Always keep a copy of what you send.** Include: 1. Your name, current address, DOB, SSN (last 4 digits) 2. Reference to the specific report (case number if available) 3. Clear identification of what you’re disputing 4. Evidence supporting your dispute: - Court order (dismissal, judgment for tenant, satisfaction of judgment) - Payment receipts or zero-balance letters - Documentation of the correct disposition 5. Explicit request for investigation under the FCRA Sample opening: “Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681i), I am disputing the following information appearing on my \[Company Name\] report as it relates to me…” ![FCRA dispute letter with supporting documents](/images/misc/fcra-dispute-letter-template-printed-with-supporti.webp) ## Step 5: Wait for the investigation Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681i, screening companies must complete a reasonable reinvestigation within 30 days of receiving your dispute (or 45 days if you add additional information mid-investigation). During that time: - The screening company contacts the original source (the JP court, the landlord, or LexisNexis) to verify - You may receive a request for additional documentation - You should receive written results at the end of the investigation ## Step 6: Review the outcome Three possible outcomes: **Verified inaccurate → corrected**. The screening company updates the report. You can request a new copy showing the correction. **Verified accurate → unchanged**. The company reports back that the information is confirmed accurate. If you disagree, you can add a 100-word consumer statement to the report explaining your position. **Unable to verify → deleted**. If the original source can’t confirm the data (rare but happens), the item may be removed. For records over 7 years old, “deleted” is the typical outcome — companies rarely try to verify aged records. ## What if the company refuses to correct a clear error? If the screening company refuses to correct a clearly inaccurate item, you have options: 1. **Escalate within the company** — request supervisor review 2. **File a complaint with the CFPB** (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) 3. **Consult a consumer rights attorney** — willful FCRA violations can result in statutory damages plus attorney fees ## After the dispute — what changes for you A successful dispute updates future screening pulls. Landlords who screened you before the correction won’t see the update automatically — they’d need to run the report again. If you’re applying to properties, wait for the corrected report before submitting, and include the corrected report with your application if it strengthens your case. For the properties that will already approve your file even with an eviction on record, see our home page [/ →](/) or PMC eviction policy guide [/property-management-companies-that-accept-evictions/ →](/property-management-companies-that-accept-evictions/) . **This guide is not legal advice. For complex FCRA disputes, consult a consumer rights attorney.** ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How long does an FCRA dispute take? + Screening companies generally must complete the investigation within 30 days of receiving your written dispute. They must send you the results in writing. ### What can I actually dispute? + Inaccurate balance status (paid showing as unpaid), wrong disposition (dismissal showing as judgment), incorrect tenant identity, and filings over 7 years old that should have been purged. ### Do I need a lawyer to file an FCRA dispute? + No — you can file directly with the screening company. Most disputes are handled without an attorney. If the company refuses to correct clear errors, then consulting a consumer rights attorney may make sense. ## Related Guides ### 10 Mistakes Renters With Evictions Make on Applications (And How to Avoid Them) The 10 costly mistakes renters with evictions make when applying — and exactly how to avoid each and stop wasting fees. [10 Mistakes Renters With Evictions Make on Applications (And How to Avoid Them) →](/guide/10-mistakes-renters-with-evictions-make-on-applications/) ### Can You Be Denied Housing for a Dismissed Eviction in Texas? Why dismissed filings still appear and get renters denied — and how to prove the dismissal to leasing offices. [Can You Be Denied Housing for a Dismissed Eviction in Texas? →](/guide/can-you-be-denied-housing-for-a-dismissed-eviction-in-texas/) ### Can You Get an Eviction Expunged in Texas? (2026 Update) Texas has no way to seal or expunge an eviction. HB 2909 died in committee. Why it's permanent and what to do instead. [Can You Get an Eviction Expunged in Texas? (2026 Update) →](/guide/can-you-get-an-eviction-expunged-in-texas/) ### How Eviction Records Work in Texas: Court Records vs. Screening Reports vs. Credit Reports The three record systems untangled: JP court records (permanent), screening reports (7-year FCRA), credit reports (debt only). [How Eviction Records Work in Texas: Court Records vs. Screening Reports vs. Credit Reports →](/guide/court-records-vs-screening-reports-vs-credit-reports/) ## Don't Get Denied Again. Talk to a Texas Expert Today. Get your verified list of eviction-friendly Texas apartments within hours, not days. Free to you, always. Get My Free List [/contact/ →](/contact/) Call 808-213-6770 [tel:808-213-6770 →](tel:808-213-6770)