How to Report One Account to Credit Bureaus and Landlords

If you have a new or less-than-satisfactory credit profile, you can improve your credit by adding an account to your credit report. Additionally, landlords may accept proof of a satisfactory account to establish credit. To add an account to your credit report, submit proof of the account to the credit bureau or directly to the landlord.

Instructions

1

Collect billing statements and copies of both sides of the canceled checks used to pay the account for a 12-month period for the account you want to add to your credit bureau or use to establish credit with a landlord. Pay your bill before the due date every month. Banks usually don't return canceled checks to you with your billing statement. If you don't receive canceled checks, contact your bank to obtain copies of the canceled checks. Alternatively, banks may allow you to print canceled checks through their online banking systems.

2

Send the copies of the canceled checks and monthly billing statement to the credit bureaus or to the landlord. For the credit bureaus, include a letter in the correspondence requesting the addition of the enclosed account to your credit profile. Include contact information for the account in the letter, in addition to your name, address, phone number and Social Security number. If you're establishing credit with a landlord, the letter should state that you'd like to use proof of payment of the enclosed account to establish credit.

3

Follow up with the credit bureaus or the landlord in 30 days. Request copies of your credit report to see if the account is now included on your credit report. You can request credit reports directly from the credit bureaus. Contact the landlord and ask if proof of the account was accepted to establish credit.