If you’ve ever wondered why you were denied an application for a credit card, or why you struggled to get approved for a home loan, it could be that your credit score is in jeopardy.
Your credit score is determined by a variety of factors, including your credit payment history, the age of your various credit accounts, and more credit-based criteria. But if you believe your credit score has been compromised, or that the credit score that you’ve been issued is incorrect, how can you dispute your claim and protect your consumer identity?
Most likely, you will have to report any issues directly to the credit bureaus. Luckily for you, we have compiled all this information in a list just for our Fiscal Tiger readers.
Note: If you have lost your wallet or suspect a credit or debit card has been stolen, your first priority should be contacting the issuing bank or credit card company. Getting your credit card canceled or your debit account frozen can prevent thieves from damaging your credit score in the first place. Contacting the credit bureaus will not help you stop thieves from using your credit card or debit card.
Keep in mind, this list will be updated as information changes, but it has been updated with accurate information as of May 2021.
Table of Contents
How to Contact Equifax
Equifax is a consumer credit reporting agency based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Equifax Website
Notable customer service pages on the Equifax website include:
- For disputes;
- To request a report;
- According to Equifax, visit the FCRA Summary of Rights page “if you are entitled to a free report for other reasons, including if you’ve been denied credit in the last 60 days, or if you recently placed a fraud alert on your credit report.”
- Otherwise, refer to the government website that exists specifically for requesting credit reports.
- To report suspected fraud;
- To place or lift a freeze from your account;
- For business credit information and questions.
However, in some cases it will be necessary to send materials through the mail.
Equifax Mailing Address
Equifax Credit Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box [dependent on your needs, see below]
Atlanta, GA 30374.
Important P.O. boxes related to Equifax include:
- To request a credit report: P.O. Box 740241;
- To place or lift a credit freeze from your account: P.O. Box 105788;
- To place a fraud alert on your account: P.O. Box 105069;
- To dispute information on your report: P.O. Box 740256.
In some cases, however, it may be more convenient or appropriate to call Equifax.
Equifax Phone Numbers
Notable Equifax numbers related to customer service include:
- Dispute credit report items: 866-349-5191;
- Request free credit report: 866-349-5191;
- Place fraud alert on profile: 800-525-6285;
- To place or remove a freeze on your credit account:
- Automated line: 800-685-1111;
- Automated line for NY residents: 800-349-9960;
- Customer care line: 888-298-0045;
- Existing customer support or general questions: 888-548-7878;
- Business solutions: 888-407-0359.
You can typically expect a wait time if you want to speak to a live customer service professional.
How to Contact Experian
Experian is a consumer credit reporting agency based in Dublin, Ireland.
Experian Website
Notable customer service pages on the Experian website include:
- For disputes;
- To request a report;
- To report suspected fraud;
- General guidance on fraud protection;
- To place or lift a freeze on your account;
- Experian business services.
However, in some cases it will be necessary to send materials through the mail.
Experian Mailing Address
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box [dependent on your needs, see below]
Allen, TX 75013.
Important P.O. boxes related to Experian include:
- To request a credit report: P.O. Box 2002;
- To mail records for a credit dispute: P.O. Box 4500.
In some cases, however, it may be more convenient or appropriate to call Experian.
Experian Phone Numbers
Notable Experian numbers related to customer service include:
- Dispute credit report items: This phone number is included in your credit report.
- Report requests: 888-397-3742;
- To place or lift a freeze on your account, or to report fraud: 888-397-3742;
- Existing customer support for experian services: 888-397-3742;
- Business credit services: 888-243-6951.
You can typically expect a wait time if you want to speak to a live customer service professional.
How to Contact TransUnion
TransUnion is a consumer credit reporting agency based in Chicago, Illinois.
TransUnion Website
Notable customer service pages on the TransUnion website include:
- To request a report;
- To dispute your report;
- To report suspected fraud;
- To place a freeze on your account;
- To report child-specific identity theft.
However, in some cases it will be necessary to send materials through the mail.
TransUnion Mailing Address
TransUnion Consumer Relations
P.O. Box [dependent on needs, see below]
Chester, PA 19016-2000.
Important P.O. boxes related to TransUnion include:
- To purchase a credit report from transUnion: P.O. Box 1000;
- To file a dispute: P.O. Box 2000 (and mail with this form);
- To report suspected fraud or to freeze your account: P.O. Box 2000.
In some cases, however, it may be more convenient or appropriate to call TransUnion.
TransUnion Phone Numbers
Notable TransUnion numbers related to customer service include:
- Dispute items: 800-916-8800;
- Free annual credit report: 877-322-8228;
- Purchase credit report: 800-888-4213;
- Place a security freeze or report fraud: 888-909-8872;
- Fraud assistance: 800-680-7289;
- TransUnion direct customer support for businesses (existing customers): 800-606-5104;
- TransUnion direct business services (new customers): 866-922-2100.
You can typically expect a wait time if you want to speak to a live customer service professional.
When to Contact the Credit Bureaus
There are many reasons why you might contact the credit bureaus. It could be that you want to protect your identity and credit score, or maybe you want to purchase a credit report. Here are some of the scenarios, in more detail.
Getting Your Free Credit Reports or Credit Score
You might be interested in purchasing a credit report directly from the bureaus so you can more accurately track your credit score. With the bureaus you can also track and monitor the credit score of your business, which can help you obtain a business loan or business line of credit.
Since all U.S. citizens are guaranteed by federal law one free credit report per year (based on a 12 month cycle, not the fiscal year), you are entitled to contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for your credit report via their Annual Credit Report site. This report does not include your score, but does include information on the factors that influence your score.
If you would like more than one credit report per year, you can also purchase credit reports directly from the credit bureaus. Oftentimes these purchased credit reports will also come with information on how you can improve your credit and increase your score. The purchased reports from the three credit bureaus should include your credit score, as well.
Disputing Your Credit Report or Filing a Complaint
Another scenario might be that you believe your credit score is based on incorrect or inaccurate information, and would like to dispute a claim with the credit bureaus. You can send information their way and file a dispute directly with the offices, either online through their portal, through the mail, or over the telephone.
Disputing your credit report might require paperwork or receipts, so that the bureaus can verify the information you’ve told them. Additionally, although you are able to dispute claims by yourself, it can be beneficial to get the aid of credit repair services to help you more accurately file a dispute or find alternative ways to repair your credit.
Here are the various ways (by phone, email, or physical mail) to contact the credit bureaus if you would like to dispute a claim:
- Equifax;
- Online;
- Phone: 866-349-5191;
- Mail: Equifax Credit Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374;
- Experian;
- Online;
- Phone: You must first order a credit report, and then contact the number given on the report.
- Mail: Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013;
- TransUnion;
- Online;
- Phone: 800-916-8800;
- Mail: TransUnion Consumer Relations (complete this form)
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000.
However, disputes aren’t the only reason you may need to contact a credit bureau. Some concerns such as the need for a credit freeze can be particularly pressing.
Requesting a Credit Freeze
Perhaps you believe your identity was stolen, and you’re worried the thief might destroy your credit by trying to apply for multiple credit cards or loans. You can call the bureaus and put a freeze on your account so the activity won’t affect your score, and banks or loan offices will be notified of the issue if anyone tries to use your personal information.
This will not deactivate any current account, however, so make sure your current open accounts are not compromised. If you believe they are, contact your bank or loan office immediately and report your concerns.
If you do place a credit freeze on your account, later you can call the bureaus back and lift the freeze on your account. You can also grant one-time, limited access to your account if you need to apply for a loan but are still concerned about identity thieves.
Here’s how to contact the various bureaus and place or lift a freeze on your account:
- Equifax;
- Online;
- Phone:
- Automated line: 800-685-1111;
- Automated line for NY residents: 800-349-9960;
- Mail: Equifax Credit Information Services, LLC;
P.O. Box 105788;
Atlanta, GA 30374;
- Experian;
- Online;
- Phone: 888-397-3742;
- Mail: (Experian allows customers access via phone or online for freezes, but does not have a specific P.O. Box available);
- TransUnion;
- Online;
- Phone: 888-909-8872;
- Mail: TransUnion Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000.
Reports of fraud or identity theft are another pressing reason that you may need to reach out to a credit bureau.
Reporting Fraud or Identity Theft
If you have been notified by your bank of a security issue or believe you have been the victim of a security breach, such as identity fraud or theft, you can also report this issue directly to the credit bureaus if you’re worried it might affect your credit score.
Fraud alerts place temporary alerts on your account, and the credit bureaus will review information and notify you of suspicious activity. Sometimes identity theft might be a partial theft of your information, but might not be serious enough to warrant an entire freeze on your account.
An example of this is the 2017 security breach experienced by Equifax, in which consumers were exposed to a partial theft of their driver’s license information. Although the breach exposed driver’s license names and numbers, it did not expose the state in which the ID was issued, or the expiration date (according to a report from Equifax).
If you believe your identity was stolen, or if you noticed a fraudulent charge on your credit report, you can contact the credit bureaus here to report the issue and place a fraud alert on your profile:
- Equifax;
- Online;
- Specific to the Equifax breach of Sept 2017;
- Phone: 800-525-6285
- Mail: Equifax Credit Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30374;
- Experian;
- Online;
- Phone: 888-397-3742;
- Mail: (Experian allows customers access via phone or online for fraud alerts, but does not have a specific P.O. Box available);
- TransUnion;
- Online;
- Phone: 888-909-8872;
- Mail: TransUnion Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000.
These credit bureaus are subject to federal oversight, so it is also important to be aware of relevant regulating agencies in the event that you need to file a complaint about a credit bureau.
How to File a Complaint About a Credit Reporting Agency
If you feel that the credit bureaus are unable or unwilling to help you, you can report your issue directly to the federal government, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Keep in mind, contacting the CFPB is for extreme cases. Credit bureaus are not operated by the federal government, but the federal government does have some control over how your information is used and how the credit bureaus should treat consumers.
It may be that you contacted the credit bureaus but were dissatisfied with their response, or never heard back from them. Additionally, if you have had an issue with credit monitoring or believe your report was used inaccurately, the CFPB would like to be notified of the issue.
Contacting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau site;
- Mailing address:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
P.O. Box 2900
Clinton, IA 52733-2900;
- Phone number: 855-411-2372;
- Fax number: 855-237-2392.
Always ensure that you have appropriate supporting documentation for your complaint, such as copies of your interactions with the credit bureau.
It is important that you regularly review your credit report so that you can react quickly to any mistakes or other issues that may negatively affect your credit. However, you should also bear in mind that your credit score will typically vary slightly between different credit bureaus.
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