Credit Score Basics > How to add a Notice of Correction with Credit Karma

How to add a Notice of Correction with Credit Karma

Wollit Team2 minute read · Updated 1st July 2024

A Notice of Correction is a short statement (usually up to 200 words) that helps explain specific entries on your credit report, like missed payments or bankruptcy. It doesn't directly affect your credit score, but it helps lenders understand your situation when they review your credit file. In other words, it gives lenders some context so they don’t automatically reject you.

If you want to add one to your TransUnion credit report via Credit Karma (which gives you access to your TransUnion report and score for free), here is what you need to do.

How to add a Notice of Correction with Credit Karma

Unfortunately, you can't add a Notice of Correction through Credit Karma. Instead, you need to contact TransUnion directly. Here's how:

Write a letter with your full name, date of birth, and address.
Send the letter to TransUnion by mail or email.
If you email them, send the email to [email protected].
If you want to send it via post, mail it to: TransUnion Consumer Services Team, PO BOX 647, Unit 4, HULL HU9 9QZ.

Once TransUnion receives it, they will review it. If they agree to add the Notice of Correction to your report, it will stay on your TransUnion credit file (which you can see on Credit Karma) until you ask TransUnion to remove it.

How can I ensure my Notice of Correction is taken seriously by lenders?

To make sure lenders take your Notice of Correction seriously, follow these strategies:

Explain clearly and simply why you had negative entries on your credit report, such as being sick, losing your job, or having your identity stolen.
Don’t appeal to emotions.
Don’t use the Notice of Correction to make excuses.
Don’t add too many Notices of Correction. It's more effective when you use just one or two, to explain specific situations or events.
Be careful not to say anything that could damage someone else's reputation. The credit agencies won't accept notices that aren't true or that make others look bad.
Your Notice of Correction should be short and clear. It should be under 200 words so that lenders can quickly understand your situation.
Explain any changes that have happened since the problem occurred and why lenders can now trust you to make payments on time.
Make sure the information in your Notice of Correction is true and accurate. Credit agencies will add your exact words to your credit report, so it's very important to get it right.

One thing to keep in mind: lenders are required by law to read each Notice of Correction statement on your credit report. When you add a Notice of Correction, it can cause delays in the borrowing application process because lenders need to manually review your application.

Can adding a Notice of Correction with Credit Karma improve my credit score?

No. However, while it doesn't directly affect your credit score, a Notice of Correction can influence lending decisions by giving a clear explanation.

At the end of the day, the most important thing for your credit score remains your credit history. The good news is that now there are many apps that can help you build and improve credit.

One such app is Wollit.

Wollit works by reporting a fixed-fee monthly subscription as a loan repayment to all credit reference agencies, including TransUnion. This helps you build a history of timely debt repayments, which is the main factor that matters for your credit score.

Over time, this will reduce the impact of a negative entry in your credit report much more than a Notice of Correction ever could. It will also give you an opportunity to show lenders that you truly have been improving since the negative event happened, and it will make your Notice of Correction seem like less of an excuse.