You have the right to have your credit report completely and accurately reflect your credit history. Negative information on your credit report can severely damage your credit score and your ability to obtain credit to buy things like a home or car, or be approved for a loan – it’s vitally important that your credit report be accurate.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") provides a civil remedy for consumers who have been harmed by the failure to remove reported incorrect information placed on their credit reports by the credit bureaus or those who report credit information to the credit bureaus, called "furnishers."
The FCRA may provide a remedy for you if you notice:
- someone viewed your credit report without your permission
- inaccurate information on your credit report
- unfamiliar accounts
- other indicators of identity theft
- someone else’s credit data on your report
- inaccurate or obsolete criminal history in employment reports
- incorrect entries by creditors / credit furnishers
- obsolete information, old addresses, etc.
- inaccurate/ incorrect entries on your credit file
CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT FOR ERRORS
Request a Current Copy of Your Credit Report
To request a copy of your credit report, you will need to provide a letter with your personal information, such as your Social Security Number, date of birth, your full name, current and former addresses, a current phone number and current and former employers. To confirm your identity, it is helpful to include a copy of your driver’s license, a recent utility bill or a current paystub, with your request. You can submit requests for your credit report online or you may write for your report.
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111
http://www.equifax.com
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
http://www.experian.com
TransUnion
2 Baldwin Place
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022-2000
1-800-888-4213
http://www.transunion.com
Get a FREE Credit Report
Under the FCRA you have the right to receive one free credit report a year, every 12 months, from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. The official website for requesting a credit report is: www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Reports may be requested online, or by phone: 1-877-322-8228. If you call, you will need to go through a verification process. Your reports will be mailed to you within 10 – 15 days (allow 2 – 3 weeks for delivery). Frequently a credit reporting agency may contact a consumer requesting proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, recent utility bill or a current pay stub, for security purposes.
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
1-877-322-8228
If you have been denied credit within the past 60 days, or you are a victim of identity theft, you may receive a FREE copy of your credit report from the credit reporting agencies. When you request your report, you will need to supply a copy of the credit denial letter, or in the case of identity theft, a copy of the police report. We recommend that you do not request or dispute a credit report online. The credit bureaus sometime bury a legal waiver in the "click" agreement! Send a written request for credit reports, or disputes, via US mail. Keep a copy of your correspondence for your files!
How To Dispute Your Credit Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Read more:
Inaccurate Employment Reports Can Be Devastating
Identity Theft on a Massive Scale
Watch for Sneaky Changes in Your Credit Card Terms
Is There an Error on Your Credit Report? DISPUTE IT!
Credit Card Changes Affect Your FICO Score
National Consumer Protection Week
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Now Online
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Announces Joint Statement of Principles with Military’s JAGs
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 30 KB |
