Free Letter to Request a Credit Report

The recipient of this letter may have questions about some of the information that you have provided or may require additional information. Therefore, your letter should explain how you can be contacted.

The first step in obtaining your credit report is to check the telephone directory in your area for the name and address of the local credit bureaus. You may find them listed in the telephone Yellow Pages under "Credit Bureaus" or "Credit Reporting Agencies." Your local bank or retailer also may be able to identify them. Credit bureaus must share with you any information they have on file about you. Call the credit bureau to determine the fee that you will be charged to obtain a copy of your credit report. If you have been denied credit in the last 60 days, there should be no charge. Most credit bureaus will mail you a copy of your report, but you may instead wish to visit their office to review your credit report.

There are three main credit bureau agencies in the United States that have credit information:

Equifax

P.O. Box 105873

Atlanta, GA 30348

(800) 685-1111

Experian (Formerly TRW)

P.O. Box 2104

Allen, TX 75013-2104

(888) 397-3742

Trans Union Corporation

P.O. Box 390

Springfield, PA 19064-0390

(800) 888-4213

1. the geographic location in which the company is the strongest
2. how quickly they can obtain the information
3. their general access to the information, and
4. the number of times you have moved or changed addresses.

The fee for obtaining a credit report depends on the credit bureau and the state in which you live. Contact the credit bureau to find out the cost of obtaining the report. If you have been denied credit, employment or insurance within the last 60 days, your credit report should be provided free of charge, but it is necessary for you to provide a copy of the denial letter from the relevant company.

If you have been denied credit or if other adverse actions regarding your credit have been taken based on your credit report, you may want to obtain a copy of your credit report and verify the information contained in it.

The purpose of the Request for a Credit Report letter is to assist you in obtaining a copy of your credit report, particularly if you have been denied credit, employment or insurance within the last 60 days. The credit report tells how you have managed credit in the past and companies examine your credit report before deciding whether to give you new credit. You can request a copy of your credit report by sending a letter to a credit reporting bureau.

When you receive your credit report you should carefully review it. You have the right to respond to a negative entry on your report, to have errors corrected, or to have your response made part of your credit report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act covers all reporting on individuals as consumers when you apply for and obtain credit, employment, and insurance. The Act creates several consumer rights, including:

1. When a credit report is a factor in turning down an application, the reasons and the name and address of the credit reporting agency must be given.

2. Upon request, the credit reporting agency must inform you about the nature and substance of information in your credit file.

3. Upon request, the credit reporting agency must tell you who has received a report of your credit file. This extends for the past six months for credit and insurance purposes, and for the past two years for employment purposes.

4. If you find inaccurate and unverifiable information, it must be deleted from your credit file.

5. When you find inaccurate information, the credit reporting agency must investigate it.

6. If, after investigating, the credit reporting agency determines that the information is accurate, you have a right to dispute the item. A brief explanation can be filed and made part of all future credit reports.

7. Your credit file must be kept confidential and used only for legitimate business purposes.

8. Personal information in your credit file must not be provided to government agencies unless a court order is obtained.

9. If adverse personal information is in public records, you must be informed when it is reported for employment purposes. You also can have this information kept current.

10. Adverse information must be deleted after seven years (after ten years in bankruptcy cases).

11. If an investigative report is made on your personal life, you have the right to be informed, upon request, of the scope and nature of the report.

12. If you find that an investigative report contains adverse information, you have the right to have that item reinvestigated before the report can be reused.

13. If a credit reporting agency is negligent, you can collect actual damages. If the negligence was willful, it may be possible to collect punitive damages plus lawyers fees and court costs.

Information including date of birth, social security number, employer, spouse and phone number may be required. Some credit bureaus require that you provide proof of identity such as a copy of your driver's license, current utility bill, or bank statement.

1. The Request for a Credit Report letter should be signed by you. Retain a copy of the letter for your records.

2. Before mailing the letter, contact the credit bureau in order to determine the appropriate fee amount, whether proof of identity is required, and whether there are any other requirements of the bureau.

3. If the request for a credit report is being made because of a recent denial of credit, employment or insurance, enclose a copy of the denial letter. There should be no fee required, provided that the request is made within 60 days of the denial.

4. If proof of identity is required, photocopies, rather than original copies, should be included with the letter.