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Requesting a credit report
By Bankrate.com
The information in your credit report determines in large part what
kind of credit, from car loans to credit cards to mortgages, you'll
be able to get. Federal law gives you the right to know what consumer
credit information is collected on you and you need to exercise
that right.
Check your credit report periodically to ensure that
all the information is correct and to guard against your credit
being assumed by identity thieves. You can be very aggressive with
your credit management and pull your score with some regularity.
Or you can take a more passive approach, checking once a year to
see the status of your credit. Regardless of which approach you
take, it's not hard to get a copy of your credit report.
There are three major credit reporting bureaus: Experian,
TransUnion and Equifax. You should get a copy of your report from
each. The cost generally is around $10 per report, but depending
on where you live and your credit history, you may be able to get
a free copy.
You can request a copy online; the links in the letter
below will take you to each company's Web site where you can get
more details on obtaining your credit report. Make a separate request
of each agency.
Many people, however, prefer the old-fashioned mail
system when it comes to dealing with transmission of personal financial
data. If you are more comfortable asking for a copy via a letter,
then simply use this form and send a separate letter to each agency.
Personalize the form letter below by entering your
specifics in the areas in red. You
can print out this Web page and make your changes by hand or copy
the body of the letter and paste it into a document where you can
make your changes on your PC.
Date
Equifax Credit Information Services Inc.
https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/forward.ehtml?forward=home
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
TransUnion LLC
http://www.transunion.com/Personal/OrderOtherMethods.jsp
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Experian
http://www.experian.com/consumer/index.html
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
Re: Request a credit report
Dear Sir or Madam:
In accordance with the Federal Fair Credit Reporting
Act, I am sending this letter to request a copy of my credit report.
To expedite my request, here is my personal information:
- Your full name
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
- Your full address (street, city, state,
ZIP Code)
- Your home telephone number
Please include all sources for the information and the complete
records of any distribution of credit information to any parties
by any sources.
Enclosed, you will find my payment of amount
to cover cost of the report.
If you are seeking a copy of
your credit report because you recently were denied credit, mention
that here. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report
if you request it within 60 days of the date that a creditor said
"no" because of something in your file. Let the credit agency know
that's why you want your report:
On [specific date] I was declined
credit by [name of creditor]. Enclosed you will find a copy of
the letter from the creditor refusing me credit. Please do not
share this information with any other agency.
Any other details you would
like to add about the report or your credit in general should be
detailed here.
Thank you for your prompt attention to my request.
Your Signature
Your Typed Name
Your Address
City, State and ZIP Code
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