How Long Does it Take for Credit Bureaus to Update Records?

If you're looking into getting a loan or applying for new credit cards, the most important factors creditors look at before deciding is your credit score and report. If you're paying down credit card balances or loans, you may now wonder how long it takes for your credit report to update?

To access the benefits of a clean credit report, you could file for the process yourself and constantly follow up with a credit reporting agency until the changes reflect on your account. Alternatively, you could contact DoNotPay, which guarantees a more seamless process.

What Is a Credit Report?

A credit report lists your financial information: current debts, loans, and bill payment history. It also lists where you work and reside and whether you've filed for bankruptcy, sued, or been arrested.

The major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian) constantly update your credit reports to reflect new information regarding your credit usage

1. Payments made and whether they were made on time
2. Changes in your credit card balance
3. Your outstanding debt
4. New credit applications, loans, or credit accounts you've opened

How Often Do Credit Reports Update?

Credit reports are updated when creditors avail new information to the nationwide credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion for your accounts. If you want to keep track of your credit report progress, here's how long you'll need to wait for your credit report to update. It's estimated to be once every month, or at least every 45 days.

Understanding how long it takes for a credit bureau to update can help you plan when to apply for credit and the optimal time to make a payment to boosting your score.

Your credit score isn't included in the free weekly reports, but they can help you understand your credit score movements.

Note: Alternatively, you could consider a paid subscription to any major bureaus. It'll give you access to daily credit reports. The score will refresh and alert you when there are changes to your accounts, helping you better track essential account changes.

How to Get a Credit Report

Everyone in the U.S. can get up to six free credit reports per year through 2026 by visiting the Equifax website. This is in addition to one free annual credit report from each major bureau—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

You can reach them through:

The good news is the major credit bureaus are offering free weekly credit reports during the pandemic. The offer will lapse on April 20, 2022.

Get your credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies weekly at Annual Credit Report.

Other ways you can get a free credit report include:

• Adverse action notice. Suppose you get an unfavorable notice regarding your application for credit, employment, insurance, or other benefits. This notice will include the name, address, and phone number of the credit bureau, and you can request your free report from them.
• Note: You must ask for your report within 60 days of getting the notice
• If you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days.
• In case you're on public assistance, like welfare.
• If you receive an inaccurate report because of identity theft or another fraud.
• If your credit file has a fraud alert.

How to Get a Credit Report Update on Your Own

First, you need to clean up your credit record by paying off your debt in full or by

1. Filing a goodwill removal request
2. Sending a credit dispute for inaccurate reports
3. Submitting a debt validation request
4. Mailing a pay-to-delete negotiation letter to your creditors.

Then, you could request a credit report from any major bureau, which you'll receive after about 45 days.

Solving Credit Bureau Report Updates with DoNotPay

Cleaning up your credit report, especially when you either need to get a loan or file for other credit cards, is an exhaustive process that most people cannot spare time for. DoNotPay is here to help, and all you have to do is wait for the credit bureaus to update your credit report.

If you want to clean up your credit report but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 3 easy steps:

1. Search Clean Credit Report on DoNotPay.

2. Prepare a recent copy of your credit report that you can use as a reference.

3. Let us guide you through the 4 potential options:

1. If you've already paid off your debt, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.

2. If you notice any errors in your report (we have a list of common errors you can use!), we'll help you file a credit dispute to the creditor or major credit bureaus.

3. If there are no errors, we'll check if you're still eligible to file a debt validation request. If they can't validate your debt, they're required to remove it from your report and they can't collect it!

4. Lastly, if none of the above options work, we'll help you file a pay-to-delete negotiation letter. You can customize the amount you are willing to pay in exchange for getting the item removed.

You can also check out our other credit products, including Credit Limit Increase, Get My Credit Report, Keep Unused Cards Active, and more.

DoNotPay Can Help Solve Related Problems With the Click of a Button

There are countless ways to use the app. DoNotPay is easily accessible on any PC browser or as a smartphone app and not only guarantees information on how long it takes for a credit report to update, but also:

• Tips to improve your credit score
• How to remove collections from a credit report
• Hacks to fix your credit score
• Guideline for writing a debt validation letter and a credit dispute letter
• Help to dispute a credit report
• How to remove late payments and inquiries from a credit report

And that’s only the beginning.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

Apart from credit-related solutions, DoNotPay has other features that could come in handy in various facets of your everyday life. These include

• How to draft a financial aid appeal letter
• Burner card hacks for making reservations
• Aid to file a complaint against any company that has wronged you
• Tips to get help with rent
• How to make an inflation pay request

Sign up today and start fixing your credit.