Contacting The Credit Bureaus

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Contacting the credit bureaus is a necessary step if you want to acquire your credit score or report a mistake on your credit report. Being aware of the three credit bureaus and keeping them within reach is the first step to improving your overall credit scores.

Getting in Touch

The three credit bureau’s contact information is:

* Equifax: P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111

www.equifax.com

* Experian: P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742

www.experian.com

* TransUnion: P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213

www.transunion.com

Why Would You Need to Contact Them?

The main reason to get in touch with one of the credit reporting agencies is to acquire your credit report. Another common reason is to dispute a potential error on your credit report.

There are countless numbers of consumers in the United States today, and mistakes can easily happen on your credit report. That’s why it’s important ...
... to keep in touch with these agencies and monitor your credit report closely. Mistakes can happen in all areas of your credit report, including:

* Within your personal information. Make sure your name, address, phone number, social security number and date of birth are all accurate. It’s important that the reporting agency accurately knows who you are.
* Within your financial history. Pay close attention to your account records and make sure all of your accounts are documented accurately. If you’ve paid all of your bills on time, no late payments should be notated on your credit report. Also, all accounts you’ve closed in the past should be properly marked with something like “closed by consumer.” Having old accounts that appear to still be open can negatively impact your credit score.
* Within your accounts. Make sure you recognize all the accounts that are on your credit report. If there are any accounts that you don’t recognize or remember opening, that can be an indication of identity theft or fraud. Identity theft and credit card fraud are major issues in this country today, and keeping a close eye on your credit report is one way to keep a handle on it.

What to do if you find a mistake

If you find an error in your credit report, you’ll need to send a letter to the reporting agency responsible for the report. Sometimes, using a company like Creditelves can help make this process a little easier. They have templates that will help you gather all your information into a useful form to help the agency clearly understand your unique situation.

Once they receive your letter, the agency has 30 days to let you know what they decided about your dispute and if they will resolve it. If they rule in your favor, they will remove the mistake. However, it’s your responsibility to make sure they follow through. There are thousands of consumers that contact each of the credit bureaus daily, so be proactive to make sure your account doesn’t fall through the cracks. If they decide there isn’t an error, you can add a statement to your credit report that explains the entry in question.

For more information on contacting the credit bureaus, or for help disputing an entry on your credit report, visit www.creditelves.com.