TransUnion Free Annual Credit Report – (by phone) (800) 888-4213

Order by Phone

Mail Address:

TransUnion: (Eastern United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

TransUnion: (Western United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 34012
Fullerton, CA 92831

TransUnion: (Puerto Rico)
TransUnion
Puerto Rico Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 13968
Santurce Station San Juan, PR00907-3968

Equifax Free Annual Credit Report – (by phone) 1.877.726.7311

Equifax FCRA free credit report guidelines and contact information: Click Here.

View information regarding your state’s guidelines for receiving free or reduced-fee access to a copy of your Equifax credit file Click Here

Mail Address:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

Experian Free Annual Credit Report (by phone) 1 866 200 6020

To confirm your eligibility and to request your free or discounted report from Experian Credit Bureau delivered by U.S. mail, please call 1 866 200 6020.

Experian Opinions On Credit Repair

Experian Free Credit Report Entitlement

Start Experian Online Dispute.

Mail Address:

Experian:
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013

Government Links

FCRA – Fair Credit Reporting Act

FDCPA – Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Your Access to Free Credit Reports Facts for Consumers from the FTC.gov government website.

FTC.gov – Regulation of Credit Repair Organizations

Your personal credit history is one of your most important assets and should be guarded carefully. Any information that is inaccurate should be corrected so that potential creditors, employers, insurance companies and other organizations see an accurate picture of your credit profile when they request copies of your personal credit reports.

You can have inaccurate information corrected by sending the credit reporting agencies (CRA) a written request that outlines exactly what needs to be corrected. The easier you make it for CRAs to verify your dispute as legitimate the quicker you can correct your credit profile.

WARNING! Accurate and timely information cannot be removed from your personal credit reports! Use the free sample letter below only if you believe the information you are disputing is inaccurate!

Use the sample dispute letter below to write your own personal dispute letter. Remember, when disputing information on your credit reports it’s important to use specific words such as erroneous, outdated, misleading, or unverifiable. Just stating why you failed to pay the debt will not compel credit reporting agencies to launch an investigation into your dispute.

Feel free to print this page, or copy and paste the text into a word processor.

Free Sample Letter for Correcting Inaccurate information in Your Personal Credit Profiles

Today’s Date

Your Full Name
Current Address
Current Phone Number

Attention: {insert credit reporting agency name – See addresses below}
{add CRA address here}

Dear {credit reporting agency}

This letter is a formal request to correct inaccurate information contained in my credit file. The item(s) listed below is/are completely (insert appropriate word(s) {inaccurate, incorrect, incomplete, erroneous, misleading, outdated} ). I have enclosed a copy of the credit report your organization provided to me on {insert date of report here} and circled in red the item(s) in question.

Line Item: {insert name of creditor, account number or line item number)

Item Description: (this info is found on your credit report)

Requested Correction: (describe exactly what you want. If you want an item deleted say so and explain why. If you want an item corrected or updated, provide the correct information such as names, dates, amounts and so forth and any evidence to support your claim).

In accordance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), I respectfully request you investigate my claim and, if after your investigation, you find my claim to be valid and accurate, I request that you immediately {delete, update, correct} the item.

Furthermore, I request that you supply a corrected copy of my credit profile to me and all creditors who have received a copy within the last 6 months, or the last 2 years for employment purposes. Additionally, please provide me with the name, address, and telephone number of each credit grantor or other subscriber that you provided a copy of my credit report too within the past six months.

If your investigation shows the information to be accurate, I respectfully request that you forward to me a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the item in question within 15 days of the completion of your re-investigation as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

I thank you for your consideration and cooperation. If you have any questions concerning this matter I can be reached at (insert daytime phone number including area code).

Sincerely,

Signature
Printed Name

Credit Bureau Mailing Addresses:

Experian:
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion: (Eastern United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

TransUnion: (Western United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 34012
Fullerton, CA 92831

TransUnion: (Puerto Rico)
TransUnion
Puerto Rico Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 13968
Santurce Station San Juan, PR00907-3968

The new Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) requires the three national credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to provide a free copy of your credit report once per year, upon request. Most Agency’s will direct you to order credit reports through various free credit reporting websites, keep in mind it is done that way to prevent you from disputing credit information on your credit report.

Each report is assigned a special confirmation number by each Credit Bureau and you must have it to form a dispute with them. Online services don’t have confirmation numbers and they combine all three credit reports together, but they do report it as your annual free credit report to the Credit Bureaus and to dispute the information you will end up buying individual credit reports from the Credit Bureaus because you no longer qualify for the free reports.

Qualifying Criteria: If you have already requested a free report but need another copy, you may qualify for one if:

1. You’re receiving public welfare assistance;
2. Your credit file contains inaccurate information due to fraud;
3. You’ve been denied credit or insurance within past 60 days; or
4. You’re unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days;

Use the free sample credit report request letter below to draft your own letter to send to the CRAs requesting a free copy of your personal consumer credit report. Best if you Cut and Paste it into Ms Word or Word Pad.

Sample Letter for Requesting Free Credit Reports

Today’s Date

Full Name
Current Address
Current Phone Number

Name and Address
of National Credit Bureau

Dear Credit Bureau,

I am requesting a free copy of my credit report from your organization in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 1681j (b) and (c). My qualifying reason(s) is/are (insert one or more of the qualifying reasons from above)

For example: On {insert date here} I was refused credit by {name of creditor}. I’ve enclosed a copy of the creditor’s refusal letter.

Please use the following personal information to locate and forward the report to me:

Full Legal Name: {insert your full name}

Birthday: {insert your birth date in this format mm/dd/yyyy

Social Security Number: {insert your 9-digit number}

Current Address: {insert your complete address}

Former Address: {insert previous addresses if you have moved more than once in the last five years)

I’ve also enclosed copies of my driver’s license, {or utility bill} showing my current address, and a photocopy of my Social Security card. Please do not share my information with any other agency. I look forward to your speedy reply and if you have any questions concerning this request I can be reached at {insert daytime phone number and area code). Thank you.

Sincerely,

Signature
Your Printed Name

Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 1681j (b) and (c):

(b) Free disclosure after adverse notice to consumer:
Each consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on a consumer shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 1681g of this title without charge to the consumer if, not later than 60 days after receipt by such consumer of a notification pursuant to section 1681m of this title, or of a notification from a debt collection agency affiliated with that consumer reporting agency stating that the consumer’s credit rating may be or has been adversely affected, the consumer makes a request under section 1681g of this title.

(c) Free disclosure under certain other circumstances:
Upon the request of the consumer, a consumer reporting agency shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 1681g of this title once during any 12-month period without charge to that consumer if the consumer certifies in writing that the consumer:

(1) is unemployed and intends to apply for employment in the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the certification is made;

(2) is a recipient of public welfare assistance; or

(3) has reason to believe that the file on the consumer at the agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.

Credit Bureau Mailing Addresses:

Experian:
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion: (Eastern United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

TransUnion: (Western United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 34012
Fullerton, CA 92831

TransUnion: (Puerto Rico)
TransUnion
Puerto Rico Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 13968
Santurce Station San Juan, PR00907-3968

Cease and Desist All Telephone Communication Letter

Today’s Date

Your Name
Your Address

Collector’s Name
Collector’s Address

ACCOUNT#:

NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST ALL TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION

Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, [15 USC 1692c] Section 805(c): CEASING COMMUNICATION: I hereby request that you must cease all communication with me after being notified in writing that I no longer wish to communicate with you.

Therefore, I demand that you stop calling me at home, at work, on my cell phone or at any other location!
In accordance with the federal FDCPA, now that you have received this “stop calling” letter, you may only contact me to inform me that you:

• “are terminating further collection efforts;
• ” intend to invoke a specified remedy.

Be advised that I am well aware of my rights! For instance, I know that any future contact by you or your company violates the FDCPA and that since you already have my location information, calls made by you or your company to any 3rd party concerning me violates section 805(b)2 of the FDCPA.

Be advised that I am keeping accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company, including tape recording all phone calls. If you continue calling me I will pursue all available legal actions to stop you from harassing me and my family.

NAME AND SIGNATURE

Remarks for Personal Records:

• 1)Above Letter Must be Sent via Certified Mail (very important) return receipt for proof.
• 2) I personally will recommend to log every time they collection department calls (in case they do so) after mailing out the letter and immediately File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
• 3) Complaints can be filed by phone at 1-877-382-4357, or online (FTC.gov complaints) in english and spanish.
• 4) Once complaint is completed the person will receive a reference number from the FTC for future contact.

Follow these simple debt free tips, and be debt free forever!

* Avoid getting into debt by using cash wherever possible.

* Prepare a budget every month, and account for every dollar (including the spare cash). This discipline will get you onto a great money management start!

* Eliminate channels on cable TV that you’ll just never watch. You can save a lot of money by having just the channels you watch the most.

* Be patient. Getting rid of all the debt that you’ve accumulated can be a very slow process. It may seem that it was easy to get into debt.. getting out of debt is a process of discipline, education and patience… and YES, it will take time. Yet it is possible.

* Look for free or low cost entertainment. Your local newspaper is a great source, you may be able to find some free concerts in town.

* Here is the BEST tip of all: Put a note in your wallet / purse with the words “Do I really need this?”. Many times we want something that we DON’T need.

* Call up your creditors and tell them about your situation. They may offer you some rebates from the payment due, or charge a lower interest on an amount due.

* Change your spending habits. If most of the debt is being accumulated by your spouse or partner, it can be quite a challenge getting them to change their spending ways, but set an example by changing your attitudes and behavior.

* Start making food at home instead of buying them from outside. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover how much money you can save by making food at home.

* If you’re going to buy a consumer durable item, save cash for it, and by the time you have enough money to buy it, you may not want it.

* Start using supermarket coupons so that you don’t have to pay face value for the items you purchase.

* Think about any major expenses that will come up in the future, start saving for it so you don’t tap into the credit card (or a loan) when buying it.

* When you draw up a budget, be realistic. Many times people draw up a budget, where they use nearly every cent earned to settle the debt, adding unwanted stress, be realistic, and keep a bit of money for the bare essentials.

* Live within your means. If you don’t have the cash to buy something now, then truth is….you CAN’T AFFORD IT! .

* As soon as you finish settling off the balance on one of your credit cards, close the account immediately. Too often, many people get back to their old spending ways when they see that there’s a $0 balance on their credit card.

If you follow the above Free Credit Counseling Tips carefully, and are dedicated to your goal, you will soon see your debt fall away to reveal a clear path to a debt free lifestyle!

Thank you
The Helpful Hands Foundation
“helping one hand at a time” become debt free!!