There ought to be a law requiring a certain amount of customer service from credit bureaus. It is virtually impossible to get hold of a real person with the credit reporting bureaus Transunion, Experian or Equifax. It seems bizarre that these companies hold the keys to people’s ability to get loans, insurance and jobs, but if something goes wrong there is little that you can do to correct the problem besides mailing in a dispute or hiring a lawyer. It is near impossible to contact them to ask even a simple question. There are policies in place that any contact should be in writing, and if you can reach a person it is so buried in the phone system you can’t find it easily. Each bureau seems to do as much as possible to force people to do everything online or by mail.
If you have a question to ask, even a simple or general question, you may be asked to request a credit report. When you do so, you are obligated to enter all the personal information you are told never to give out even if you aren’t in need of specific information relating to your file. Most disputes must be mailed in, and if you have a question you will likely be referred to the website. It seems as though everything possible is done to keep you away from being able to speak to a real person.
You are entitled to a free credit report annually from each of the bureaus.
Phone numbers to try for the credit bureaus are:
TransUnion:
- Free annual credit report: 1-877-322-8228
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Dispute an item on your credit report: 1-800-916-8800
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Fraud Victim Assistance Department: 1-800-680-7289
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Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit or insurance: 1-888-567-8688
Experian:
- Order credit report by phone: 1 888 397 3742 or Order your report online
- Fraud reports 1 888 397 3742
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Dispute For disputes, no number published but you can dispute online, or directed to use the toll-free number on your report or write to us tusing the address on your report.
Equifax:
- Place fraud alert on report 1-888-766-0008
- Denial of credit or entitled to free report 1-800-685-1111
- Initiate a dispute online here
