Editor’s note: Andrew Perzo is on vacation. Today’s Informer features a column that first ran on July 1.

How do I have my credit record corrected and have improper issues removed from it?

You should contact — in writing — the credit reporting agency that compiled the record, along with the creditor involved in the erroneous entry.

Tell the agency and creditor what information is wrong, and ask them to correct the problem. Include copies of supporting documents with your letters.

“Credit reporting companies must investigate the items in question — usually within 30 days — unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided the information,” reads a page on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.

“After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the credit reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the credit reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.”

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, credit reporting agencies and creditors need not look into complaints about personal information like addresses and phone numbers; employer names; or data from public records, including tax lien and bankruptcy filings.

Additionally, the CFPB says, agencies and creditors don’t have to investigate complaints if “you use a form a credit repair organization supplies to you or a credit repair organization prepares or submits the dispute for you.”

Contact information for the credit reporting agencies:

Equifax — Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374; 800-864-2978; www.equifax.com.

Experian — Experian, P.O. Box 4000, Allen, TX 75013; 888-397-3742; www.experian.com.

TransUnion — TransUnion Consumer Solutions, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, Pa 19022-2000; 800-916-8800; www.transunion.com.

Agencies and creditors must generally look into disputes that relate directly to the following, according to the CFPB:

“Your liability for a credit account or debt with that entity furnisher (for example, whether it is your account).”

“The terms of your credit account or debt with that entity (for example, how much you owe).”

“Your performance or other conduct on an account or relationship with that entity (for example, whether you are paying on time).”

“Any other information about your account or relationship with that entity relevant to a credit report (for example, your creditworthiness).”

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers are entitled to receive, once a year, a free copy of their credit report from each agency. To order copies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.

Online: www.ftc.gov; www.consumerfinance.gov.