What to do if credit report says you are deceased?

Question

I just found out my credit report has me listed as deceased. I only discovered this because I was denied for a car loan and the lender told me they couldn't process my application because the credit bureau shows me as dead. This is insane, I'm sitting here very much alive, but apparently my credit file thinks otherwise. I need to fix this immediately because I have bills to pay, accounts to manage, and I can't afford to have my entire financial identity frozen. What are the exact steps I need to take right now to get this corrected, and how long is this going to take?

Consumer Attorneys · Accepted Answer

When a credit report incorrectly lists you as deceased, immediate action is critical because this error can trigger automatic account closures, credit freezes, and denials across your entire financial life. This falls squarely under FCRA violations related to maximum possible accuracy, and credit bureaus have a legal duty to investigate and correct this error promptly.

Take these steps immediately:

Contact all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and dispute the deceased notation in writing
Provide clear proof of identity: government-issued photo ID, Social Security card, recent utility bills, bank statements
Send all disputes by certified mail with return receipt to document when they received your dispute
Request that corrected reports be sent to any creditor or company that received the false report
Follow up in writing if you don't receive a response within 30 days

Credit bureaus must complete their investigation within 30 days under the FCRA, but they should act faster given the severity of a "deceased" error. If the bureaus fail to correct this mistake promptly, continue reporting you as deceased after you've provided proof, or if you've already suffered financial harm from denials or account closures, you may have strong legal grounds for compensation. We represent clients in these cases to force immediate correction, restore credit access, and pursue damages for the harm caused. Reach out to us for a free consultation, we can help you navigate this process and hold the credit bureaus accountable.