Dispute to Bureau? or directly to company?

It is better to notify your actions to the credit bureau as well as to the information providers. The collection agency reports to the credit bureaus. If you are disputing a certain item, they will verify it and if found correct, they need to update the item with the bureaus. This usually takes 30 to 60 days. If you get no results, send copies of all documents to the credit bureau and mention your dispute already filed with the CA and not getting any results. They will verify with the company and correct your file. If the bureaus feel that the item needs to stay as it was, you can ask for their results of investigation and understand the problem. FCRA laws say that credit report should display accurate information only on the consumer's file. If there is a proof of your dispute to be correct and the collection agency / credit bureau is not removing the item even after providing proof, it is defamation and willful injury. Under Section 623 of the FCRA act, go ahead and file a lawsuit. You win the case and the company will compensate for the damages.