Letter to Request a Credit Report

If a major purchase looms ahead, checking your credit is a crucial step in the process. A few blemishes on a record can mean a significant amount of lost cash in the form of higher interest, increased cash deposits for services, or a denial of credit altogether. If an Internet or phone request don't appeal, send a letter to TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax to obtain a copy of the credit file, plus the required fee in a check or money order.

Necessary Personal Information

When writing a credit report request letter, more data means better service and less opportunity for identity theft. To complete the request and to ensure security, the credit bureau requires a few items of personal information. These include your Social Security number, full name, maiden name, complete birth date, address and phone number. Make sure to spell all information correctly and fully, because any discrepancies can delay the report or make the bureau deny the request altogether.

Locations

Each credit union has a specific address just for requests. If the letter reaches another department, chances are that your letter will get lost in the shuffle without a result. Therefore, it pays to double-check addresses for thoroughness and correct information. Equifax is located at P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA, 30374; TransUnion LLC Customer Disclosure Center is at P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA, 19022; Experian's National Consumer Assistance Center is located at P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX, 75013.

Letter Content

A credit report request letter has a basic structure and doesn't need to be changed from bureau to bureau. The Bankrate website advises a beginning that mentions the pertinent federal law governing consumer credit disclosure, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Also, add if you're requesting the report after a denial of credit from a particular lender. Legally, the credit bureau in question must furnish a free report within 60 days of the rejection for free and must notify the applicant of the bureau's negative information at the time of the denial. Keep the letter short and to the point. There's no need for explanations or personal stories when asking for a credit report. Simply write a salutation, a reference to the FCRA, add personal information, and you're done.

Fees

The cost of the credit report depends on the agency. Usually, a credit report costs less than $20 per copy; this price doesn't include the FICO score, the three-digit ranking that's commonly used for creditworthiness ratings. If the report is after a denial of credit, it's complimentary. Keep in mind that a credit report request through the agency itself also doesn't count toward your free reports from the Federal Annual Credit Report program. At the same time, the credit bureaus cannot furnish free annual reports through these addresses.