3 Major Credit Bureaus – Which One Should I Contact?

There are three major credit bureaus that have information on you regarding your credit history. These bureaus are known as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Anyone that has ever applied for a loan or credit has a file at at least one bureau. Since merchants usually report to only one of the three bureaus, you may have to request a free report from all three to get an overall look at your credit report.

To request a free credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus, you can do so online. You can also send the request by mail. There are also sites that will charge you for a credit report. By law you are entitled to one free credit report a year from each bureau.

When you do receive your credit report, go over each section carefully. The first section details your name and address. You should check this to make sure that it is correct. If there are any inaccuracies in this section, contact the credit bureau that sent the report with the correct information.

The next section will give details of your current bills. Each of the bureaus may contain the same information or one of the three may have different information. This depends on which merchants report to that credit bureau. You should also note it is possible to have a different credit rating at each bureau.

Check the listing of your bills, the amount of the payment, and the due date. If you have been late with a payment or missed one altogether, this will show up on the credit report you receive. You also need to check to see who has been inquiring about your credit history to make sure that no unauthorized person or company has been making inquiries without your permission. When you see that everything is as it should be, then you know that your information is safe. If there are any inaccuracies in the debt information, you will need to contact the credit bureau to start taking the necessary steps to have it corrected.