Contacting the Big Three Credit Bureaus

Examining your credit reports closely is important because the reports often contain errors, and those errors can affect what interest rates you receive, what jobs or promotions you get, and how much you pay for insurance. You want to correct any erroneous, incomplete, or out-of-date information as quickly as possible. Reviewing your credit reports regularly also helps you spot identity theft early. Here’s the contact info for the big three credit-reporting agencies:

• Equifax, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; phone: 800-685-1111; website: www.equifax.com

• Experian, P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013-2104; phone: 866-200-6020; website: www.experian.com

• TransUnion, 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022-1000; phone: 800-888-4213; website: www.transunion.com

You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year from the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Whether you get a copy from one bureau every four months or all three at once, you can order your free annual reports from the Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281; phone 877-322-8228; website www.annualcreditreport.com.