How to Contact the National Credit Bureau

There are three national credit bureaus. These institutions monitor and track the credit standing for all Americans with active credit reports. There is no one "National Credit Bureau," but getting in touch with the three major bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- is relatively simple.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the reason for the contact. If you have general questions relating to creditworthiness, borrowing history, FICO scores and codes, you can contact each bureau by mail (the preferred method for non-urgent inquiries). Each mailing address is listed on the Federal Trade Commission's website (see Resources).

2. Call an individual bureau with complaints and urgent requests to correct a credit report. Before you make the call, make sure you have all the information pertaining to your complaint. This includes the account in question (account number and any statements you have), any prior correspondence with a lender or bureau, and an account's payment history.

3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission directly if you think you've been a victim of identity theft. Follow the link listed in Resources to quickly fill out the complaint form. Save all records (there is an option to print the form), and contact the credit bureaus that are reporting fraudulent charges. Make sure to also contact the lender directly and cancel the affected account. Save all correspondence.

4. Visit the Annual Credit Report website. This site allows all consumers a free copy of their credit report. Each credit bureau must supply one report per year. Make sure to review these reports for inaccuracies, and contact each individual credit bureau to report erroneous information.

Resources

• Credit Bureau Phone Numbers
• Credit Bureau Mailing Addresses
• FTC Complaint Form
• Annual Credit Report

Who Can Help Sponsored

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