How to Contact Credit Bureaus

Good credit, bad credit or no credit--these terms encompass your credit score as reported by credit bureaus. A credit report reports credit history to a potential creditor. The credit score determines if a low interest rate or high interest rate will be used. It also determines if a credit application will be accepted or denied. You credit report can be obtained by contacting a credit bureau.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

When to Contact Credit Bureaus

1. Request a free credit report. A federal law was passed in 1994 that allows one free credit report annually from each reporting bureau. The request can be made online or in writing.
2. Check credit reports annually. This will prevent or make it easier to identify errors and take the necessary action. All errors should be report immediately to the credit bureaus.
3. Prevent identity theft. Always inform the police and credit bureaus if unauthorized charges were made on your credit card.

Credit Bureaus Contact Information

4. Contact credit bureaus from the leading providers by mail:
   Equifax, P. O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374;
   Experian, P. O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013, and
   TransUnion, LLC, P. O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022.
5. Call credit bureaus by phone:
   Equifax [phone];
   Experian [phone], and
   TransUnion LLC(800) 888-4213.
6. Visit the leading providers online (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Watch out for scams. Be careful when requesting reports on the Internet via a third party.