Credit Reports

[Brooke English]

Please advise as to the process of ordering my credit reports at the respective credit reporting companies.

[William Lewis]

If you have been denied credit, goods, benefits, services or employment within the last 60 days, are unemployed seeking employment, have a fraud alert, or on public assistance, you can obtain a copy of your credit profile by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly by phone.

The telephone number for Equifax is (800) 685-1111.
The telephone number for Experian is (888) 397-3742.
The telephone number for Trans Union is (800) 916-8800.

When you dial these numbers, you will be prompted to enter your social security number and other personal idenifiers. If the system accepts your request based upon the above exemptions, you will receive the respective credit profile within three to five business days.

Alternately - and if you are denied under the above exemptions - you can go online to http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com and order your credit report. This request is a truly free credit report if you have not obtained a copy throgh the central source within the last 365 days.

Either way, please be sure to order all three credit reports each and every time you wish to review your file. Although most creditors report to all three credit reporting agencies, some local or regional creditors and collection agencies may report to only one or two. Ordering all three credit reports will allow a true and accurate review of the history reported at Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.