FAQs
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three nationwide credit bureaus. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit bureaus are companies that compile and sell credit reports. The information they collect is then used to help calculate your credit scores.
What are the 3 credit reports? ›
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three nationwide credit bureaus. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit bureaus are companies that compile and sell credit reports. The information they collect is then used to help calculate your credit scores.
How do I contact all three credit bureaus? ›
To buy a copy of your report, contact the nationwide credit bureaus:
- Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services.
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742; Experian.com/help.
- TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872; TransUnion.com/credit-help.
Your credit reports include information about the types of credit accounts you've had, your payment history and certain other information such as your credit limits. Credit reports from the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian — may contain different account information.
How do I get a free credit report from all three credit bureaus? ›
Ways to get your free 3-bureau reports from AnnualCreditReport.com
- Go to AnnualCreditReport.com – get access immediately.
- Call 1-877-322-8228 – processed and mailed within 15 days.
- Mail the Annual Credit Report Request Form – processed and mailed within 15 days of receipt of your request.
Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.
What's a good credit score? ›
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750. In 2023, the average FICO® Score☉ in the U.S. reached 715.
Which credit bureau is most important? ›
All three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — are more alike than they are different, and any variations in their data are usually minor. Equifax is the largest credit bureau in the U.S., but TransUnion and Equifax are thought to be just as accurate and important.
Do I have to notify all 3 credit bureaus? ›
just one. In most cases, you will need to contact all three credit bureaus separately if you have an error to dispute or want to freeze (or unfreeze) your credit. There is only one exception: fraud. If you call one of the credit bureaus to ask for a fraud alert, that bureau will report it to the other two bureaus.
Do I need to call all three credit bureaus to freeze my credit? ›
More management is required: Freezing and unfreezing requires contacting the three credit bureaus individually. It's not foolproof: A credit freeze won't protect against existing account fraud or other forms of identity theft. You should still monitor your accounts regularly.
Make Your Payments on Time
Late or missed payments can cause your credit score to decline. The impact can vary depending on your credit score — the higher your score, the more likely you are to see a steep drop.
Do credit reports hurt your score? ›
Highlights: Checking your credit reports or credit scores will not impact credit scores. Regularly checking your credit reports and credit scores is a good way to ensure information is accurate. Hard inquiries in response to a credit application do impact credit scores.
How to fix a credit report? ›
If you discover errors on your credit report, gather any supporting documents and include them with a letter disputing the error. Then send it to: The credit reporting agency whose report you are disputing. The company that provided the incorrect information.
Is AnnualCreditReport legit? ›
AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to get your free annual credit reports. This right is guaranteed by Federal law. You can verify this is the official site by visiting the CFPB's website. Don't be fooled by look-alike sites.
How do I check my credit score without hurting it? ›
Every year, you're entitled to one free credit report from each of the main credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can access these reports for free at annualcreditreport.com, which is authorized by federal law.
How do I get my actual credit score for free? ›
You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also be able to view free reports more frequently online.
Which of the three credit reports is most important? ›
Of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), none is considered better than the others. A lender may rely on a report from one bureau or all three bureaus to make its decisions about approving a loan.
Which credit score matters more, TransUnion or Equifax? ›
Neither your TransUnion or Equifax score is more or less accurate than the other. They're just calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is likely lower due to reporting differences. Nonetheless, a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.
Which credit bureau is most important when buying a car? ›
FICO® credit scores are the auto industry standard for determining a potential buyer's creditworthiness.
