Anyone who regularly checks their credit score (as we all, hint hint, should), probably knows that mistakes happen. Sometimes a credit report might list the wrong social security number, other times it might list a delinquency. No matter what errors are listed, any error should be removed, and removed quickly.

The following tips can help you get rid of the erroneous information that may be hurting your credit more that you realize:

Get Organized: If you have noticed erroneous information on your credit report, the first thing you will need to do is organize your dispute into two groups: the debts that legally belong to you and the debts that don’t. In the debts that don’t pile include things like debt that was re-aged illegally, paid in full accounts, and delinquencies that should have long been removed.

Decide Online or Through Mail: When it comes to contesting information on your credit report, you can choose to contest online or through the mail. The benefits of doing it online are you decrease your chances of having your dispute get lost and you might get a more timely response. But, be sure to make a paper trail - print out everything you send and everything sent to you. Don’t rely just on an electronic paper trail.

Know that You Have the Right to an Investigation: Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the legal right to have any dispute investigated. In other words, a credit bureau can’t simply blow you off. This investigation must be timely (typically within 30 days), and involves contacting collection agencies, creditors, and any other entity involved in the suspected error.

Beware of the Frivolous Rule: If a credit bureau believes you are trying to scam them, by repeatedly claiming debts you owe aren’t actually yours, they may deem your dispute “frivolous.” If this happens, they usually don’t have to investigate within a 30 day period. They usually will deem a dispute “frivolous” if they have already verified the information to be correct and you insist it is still wrong.

Know that Things Must be Sent to You in Writing: When you dispute information on your credit report, you not only have the right to a response, but you also have a right to a written response. When the investigation concludes, the bureau must send you a report of their investigation findings.

Know that Errors Must be Corrected: If an investigation reveals that information on your credit report is incorrect, it must be corrected and all three major credit bureaus must be contacted. If the information is reinstated for some reason, you must be notified.

Know that you Have the Right to a Statement: If you dispute a piece of information on your credit report, and your dispute is not resolved, you have the right to compose a 100 word statement that will be kept in your file. In this statement you can justify your reasoning. This statement, however, has no bearing on your credit score.

Know You Have the Right to Sue: If you feel that a creditor or a collection agency has violated the rights you have under the FCRA, you have the right to sue. Some people use state or federal courts, others use small claims courts. Sometimes just the threat of a lawsuit will resolve the problem, other times you may have to actual get the legal system involved.

Don’t Give Up: If creditors won’t remove the erroneous information, don’t give up. Those who persist will usually prevail. It is also smart to speak with anyone who has gone through a similar situation, they might be able to give you ideas you hadn’t yet thought of. Consulting a lawyer is also a good move: just receiving a letter from a legal firm may be all a creditor needs to take action.  Getting the media involved can also be affective: no one wants bad press. Finally, Congress may even be a place you can turn for help.

Getting erroneous information removed from your credit score can be a chore, but it’s important to remember that you have legal rights. By law, creditors must take your dispute seriously. It’s also important to keep in mind that persistence goes a long way: most creditors assume you’ll let the issue go after a few complaints. Don’t. Don’t back down until you get you way.