How to Dispute an Error on Your AECB Report (and Actually Win)

Errors on AECB files are common enough that checking for them is the single most under-used consumer right in UAE personal finance. Here's the process, step by step.

Step 1: Identify the exact entry

Pull your latest report; disputes can only be raised against your most recent report. The usual suspects:

• A closed card or loan still showing as active, often with a stale limit inflating your utilisation

• The same facility reported twice

• A settled default still marked as outstanding: the highest-stakes error, since defaults are the heaviest entries on a file

• A bounced cheque attributed to the wrong period, or one you can prove was resolved

• Wrong personal data: stale employer, wrong address, or a facility that isn't yours at all

Step 2: Try the data provider first (fast path)

The bank, telecom, or utility that reported the data can correct it at the source, and providers typically respond to correction requests within 7–10 working days. If it's a settled loan showing as open, one call to the bank with your clearance letter is often the fastest fix.

Step 3: File the dispute with AECB

If the provider stalls or disagrees, escalate to the bureau:

1. Via the app or the data correction form at etihadbureau.ae/correction, filing one request per information provider.

2. Via email: send to disputes@aecb.gov.ae. Include: your valid Emirates ID, a copy of the latest credit report with the disputed item identified, and supporting documents such as bank statements, payment receipts, clearance/liability letters, contract repayment schedules, or court documents. AECB explicitly requires clear evidence that the record is incorrect; a vague "this looks wrong" gets nowhere.

If someone files on your behalf, they need a notarized power of attorney or a bank-attested authorization letter plus both Emirates IDs.

Step 4: Wait out the verification window

AECB flags the entry and verifies with the reporting institution. The typical turnaround is around 20 working days. Note that while the dispute is open, the entry carries an "awaiting correction" flag visible on your file.

Step 5: Verify the fix

When AECB confirms the outcome, pull a fresh report and check the entry itself; corrections flow through on the monthly reporting cycle, so allow 30–60 days for the score to reflect the change. You can estimate the score impact of the correction with our AECB Credit Score Simulator.

If AECB rules against you

If the bureau upholds the lender's data and you still believe it's wrong, the escalation path runs through the Central Bank of the UAE's consumer protection channel and Sanadak, the banking and insurance ombudsman. Bring the same evidence file.

Timing tip

Never start a dispute the week you apply for a mortgage. The safe sequence is: pull the report two to three months before a major application, dispute early, confirm the correction, then apply. The full mechanics of how the score updates are in the pillar guide: Your AECB Score Decoded.

Sources and References

• Al Etihad Credit Bureau, Data Correction service and FAQ (etihadbureau.ae)

• UAE Government portal, credit report overview (u.ae)

• Federal Law No. 6 of 2010 on Credit Information, as amended (uaelegislation.gov.ae)

• Sanadak, banking and insurance ombudsman (sanadak.gov.ae)

This article is for general information and does not constitute financial advice.