In the United States there are three national credit reporting agencies, known as bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion .
These companies collect information about the loanscredit cards, payments and consumer debts, and organize it into a document called a credit report.
This report is consulted by banks, landlords, employers, and insurance companies to make decisions about loans, rentals, employment, and insurance. Therefore, knowing what each credit bureau does and how to communicate with them is an important tool for protecting your finances. personal finances.
The three agencies operate independently. Each may have slightly different information about the same person because not all creditors report their data to all three at the same time. This means that an error may appear in one report but not another.
What does a credit report include?
The report includes personal data such as name, date of birth, current and previous addresses, and Social Security number or ITIN. It also records payment history for credit cards, car loans, Mortgages and other financial accounts.
In addition, the document shows the queries that companies or institutions have made about a person's credit history and any related public records, such as bankruptcy.
It is also important to know:
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), consumers have the right to request a free copy of their credit report from each of the three agencies every 12 months through the website annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
>>> If you'd like to review your credit history, you can request your credit report free of charge. Here's how. How to get your free credit report with your Social Security in the United States or, if you prefer, How to obtain it with an ITIN number
Equifax
Equifax is one of the oldest credit reporting agencies in the United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and offers customer service by phone, online, and by mail.
To request information about your credit report or to initiate a dispute, consumers can call 1-888-378-4329. Customer service hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Equifax is the first national agency to offer its credit report translated into Spanish online. To obtain it, you can visit their website or call the same number and press option 8 for Spanish-speaking assistance.
To submit disputes by mail, the address is: Equifax Information Services, LLC, PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256. Disputes can also be initiated online through myEquifax.
Experian
Experian has its consumer support center in Allen, Texas. It offers access to credit reports and dispute tools by phone, internet, and mail.
The main number for consumers is 1-888-397-3742. To request a copy of your credit report by mail, you can call 1-866-200-6020.
Experian also offers its credit report in Spanish for free through a membership on its website. Members can access their translated report, credit monitoring, and other financial tools.
To submit a dispute by mail, the address is: Experian, PO Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013. The online process is available on their website.
TransUnion
TransUnion operates its consumer service center with telephone support and online tools for disputes, fraud alerts, and credit freezes.
The customer service number is 1-800-916-8800. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm (Eastern Time), and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. To request a report in Spanish by phone, select option 2 when calling.
Mail disputes should be sent to: TransUnion Consumer Solutions, PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000. They can also be initiated online at their website.
How to dispute an error on your credit report
La Fair Credit Reporting Act The Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives all consumers the right to dispute information they believe is incorrect or incomplete on their credit report, regardless of their immigration status. The process is free.
To initiate a dispute, the consumer must contact the agency that made the error, either online, by phone, or by mail.
When submitting the application, it is advisable to include your full name, address, Social Security number, and a clear description of the information that is considered incorrect.
The agency has 30 days to investigate the dispute and communicate the results. If the information turns out to be incorrect, the agency must correct it and notify the other agencies.
If the dispute is not resolved satisfactorily, the consumer can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov or by calling 1-855-411-2372, where assistance is available in Spanish and more than 180 other languages.
Contact of the three credit bureaus in the U.S.
- Equifax: 1-888-378-4329 (option 8 for Spanish) | PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374 | equifax.com
- Experian 1-888-397-3742 | PO Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 | experian.com
- TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 (option 2 for Spanish) | PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 | transunion.com
Other useful resources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Spanish: 1-855-411-2372 | consumerfinance.gov
- AnnualCreditReport.com (Free credit report): 1-877-322-8228 | annualcreditreport.com
Video: How to read your credit report
If you'd like to learn more, this video in Spanish from the Federal Trade Commission explains in a simple way how to read your credit report:
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