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How to Dispute Errors on Your AECB Bureau Report
Why Errors Appear on AECB Reports
Your AECB bureau report is populated by data submitted by banks and licensed lenders. These institutions report payment behaviour, outstanding balances, and account statuses monthly — and mistakes happen. A payment processed a day late on the bank's system might appear as a missed payment on your report. A loan you paid off three years ago might still show an outstanding balance. An account you never opened might appear because of a data entry error or, in rare cases, identity fraud.
UAE consumer protection regulations give you the right to challenge any entry you believe is inaccurate, and lenders are obligated to investigate and correct errors.
Common Errors to Look For
- Late payments that were made on time — the most common error. Often caused by bank processing delays.
- Closed accounts still showing as open — particularly common with credit cards closed several years ago.
- Incorrect outstanding balances — showing a higher amount than actually owed.
- Accounts you do not recognise — could indicate identity theft or a data mix-up.
- Settled defaults still showing as active defaults — after settlement, the status should be updated.
- Outdated negative information — some entries should cycle off the report after a period of time.
- Duplicate accounts — the same account appearing twice.
Step 1 — Get Your AECB Bureau Report
You cannot dispute what you cannot see. Obtain your official bureau report from etihadbureau.ae. Go through every entry carefully — check each account name, outstanding balance, payment status, and the account opening and closing dates. Print it or annotate it digitally so you can mark any entry that looks wrong.
Step 2 — Contact the Lender Directly First
For most errors, the fastest resolution comes from going directly to the bank or institution that reported the incorrect data. Call their customer service line and ask specifically to speak with the credit reporting department or disputes team. Explain the discrepancy clearly and provide any supporting documentation — bank statements, payment receipts, or loan closure letters.
Follow up in writing (email is fine) so you have a record of the complaint. Note the complaint reference number they give you.
Under UAE banking regulations, lenders are required to respond to disputes within a reasonable timeframe and, if the error is confirmed, to submit a correction to AECB.
Step 3 — File a Dispute with AECB
If the lender does not resolve the issue within 30 days, or if you want to file simultaneously, you can raise a dispute directly with AECB through their official website at aecb.gov.ae or the etihadbureau.ae portal. You will need to:
- Identify the specific entry you are disputing
- Explain why it is incorrect
- Upload any supporting evidence
AECB will then contact the relevant lender and request verification. If the lender cannot validate the entry, it must be corrected or removed.
Step 4 — Escalate to the CBUAE if Unresolved
If both the lender and AECB fail to resolve a legitimate dispute within 30 business days, you have the right to escalate directly to the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).
Under UAE Federal Law No. 6 of 2010 (the Credit Information Law), the CBUAE has the authority to investigate credit bureau disputes and direct lenders to correct inaccurate information. This is a powerful escalation path that lenders take seriously.
Your escalation letter should state clearly: the nature of the error, the dates you contacted the lender, the dates you filed with AECB, and the outcome (or lack thereof) at each stage.
AECBSudhar generates both the AECB dispute letter and the CBUAE escalation letter for you automatically — based on the specific entries in your report — ready to copy, print, and send.
How Long Does a Dispute Take?
The typical timeline for a successful dispute resolution is:
- Lender direct dispute: 15–30 days
- AECB formal dispute: 30–45 days
- CBUAE escalation: 30–60 days
Once a correction is confirmed, the updated information should appear on your AECB report within the next monthly reporting cycle. Check your report again after 30–60 days to confirm the change has been made.
What Happens to Your Score After a Successful Dispute
The impact depends on what was removed or corrected. A single late payment that is removed might improve your score by 20–40 points. A default or written-off account that is successfully disputed and removed can improve your score by 100 points or more. Every case is different, but for most people, a successful dispute is one of the fastest legitimate routes to a meaningful score improvement.
Start with a Free Report Analysis
Upload your AECB bureau report to AECBSudhar and our AI will automatically scan every entry for items that appear inaccurate, outdated, or worth challenging. It will then generate a personalised dispute letter for each one — ready to send to the lender or AECB — and a CBUAE escalation letter if you have already tried disputing without success.