The three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — each maintain separate credit reports on you. Here’s how to contact each one.

Your credit report affects everything from mortgage rates to job applications to apartment approvals. When something goes wrong—an error on your report, identity theft, or a needed freeze—you’ll want to contact the credit bureaus directly. This guide provides every phone number you’ll need for all three bureaus, plus tips for getting through quickly.

Credit Bureau Phone Numbers at a Glance

Bureau General Disputes Freezes
Experian 1-888-397-3742 1-888-397-3742 1-888-397-3742
Equifax 1-800-685-1111 1-800-685-1111 1-800-349-9960
TransUnion 1-800-916-8800 1-800-916-8800 1-888-909-8872
Free Annual Report 1-877-322-8228

Experian Phone Numbers

Experian is often considered the most innovative of the three bureaus, offering services like Experian Boost that can help build your credit score by adding utility and streaming payments to your report.

Service Phone Number Hours
General Customer Service 1-888-397-3742 M-F 8AM-5PM PT
Disputes 1-888-397-3742 M-F 8AM-5PM PT
Credit Freeze 1-888-397-3742 24/7 automated
Fraud Alerts 1-888-397-3742 24/7 automated
Experian Boost 1-844-999-5779 M-F 8AM-5PM PT
Identity Theft 1-888-397-3742 M-F 8AM-5PM PT

Experian Mailing Address

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

For disputes by mail:
Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

For more, see our Experian Phone Number guide.

Equifax Phone Numbers

Equifax handles credit data for over 220 million Americans. If you were affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach, check your settlement eligibility. The dedicated breach line (1-833-759-2979) is separate from regular customer service.

Service Phone Number Hours
General Customer Service 1-800-685-1111 M-F 9AM-8PM ET
Disputes 1-800-685-1111 M-F 9AM-8PM ET
Credit Freeze/Unfreeze 1-800-349-9960 24/7 automated
Fraud Alerts 1-800-525-6285 24/7 automated
Identity Theft Assistance 1-888-766-0008 M-F 9AM-9PM ET
Security Freeze Team 1-800-349-9960 24/7

Equifax Mailing Address

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

For disputes by mail:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256

For more, see our Equifax Phone Number guide.

TransUnion Phone Numbers

TransUnion operates in over 30 countries and offers the longest phone hours of the three bureaus (M-F 8AM-11PM ET). Their TrueVision credit lock service provides instant locking/unlocking via their app.

Service Phone Number Hours
General Customer Service 1-800-916-8800 M-F 8AM-11PM ET
Disputes 1-800-916-8800 M-F 8AM-11PM ET
Credit Freeze 1-888-909-8872 24/7 automated
Fraud Alerts 1-800-680-7289 24/7 automated
Fraud Victim Assistance 1-800-680-7289 M-F 8AM-5PM PT
TrueVision (credit lock) 1-800-916-8800 M-F 8AM-11PM ET

TransUnion Mailing Address

TransUnion LLC
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19016

For disputes by mail:
TransUnion LLC Consumer Dispute Center
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

Free Annual Credit Report

By law, you’re entitled to one free credit report from each bureau per year. You should review your reports regularly to catch errors that could be hurting your credit score. See our guide to checking your credit score for free for more options.

Contact Information
Website AnnualCreditReport.com
Phone 1-877-322-8228
Mail Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348

Note: This is the only official free source. Avoid sites charging fees.

How to Contact Credit Bureaus by Issue

Get Your Credit Report

Method Bureau Contact
Free annual report All three 1-877-322-8228
Direct from Experian Experian 1-888-397-3742
Direct from Equifax Equifax 1-800-685-1111
Direct from TransUnion TransUnion 1-800-916-8800

Dispute an Error

Bureau Phone Online
Experian 1-888-397-3742 experian.com/disputes
Equifax 1-800-685-1111 equifax.com/personal/disputes
TransUnion 1-800-916-8800 transunion.com/dispute

Online disputes are typically faster (15-45 days vs. 30-45 days by mail)

Freeze Your Credit

Bureau Phone Online
Experian 1-888-397-3742 experian.com/freeze
Equifax 1-800-349-9960 equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
TransUnion 1-888-909-8872 transunion.com/freeze

A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. It’s free by federal law.

Place a Fraud Alert

Type Duration What It Does
Initial fraud alert 1 year Requires verification for new credit
Extended fraud alert 7 years For confirmed identity theft victims
Active duty alert 1 year For military members

You only need to contact ONE bureau — they must notify the other two.

Bureau Fraud Alert Phone
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Equifax 1-800-525-6285
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

Report Identity Theft

Bureau Identity Theft Phone
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Equifax 1-888-766-0008
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

Also file a report at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)

How to Reach a Live Person

Experian

Step Action
1 Call 1-888-397-3742
2 Press 2 for credit report
3 Press 2 again for questions
4 Say “representative”
5 Wait for agent

Equifax

Step Action
1 Call 1-800-685-1111
2 Press 3 for existing issues
3 Press 1 for questions
4 Stay on line for agent

TransUnion

Step Action
1 Call 1-800-916-8800
2 Say “credit report”
3 Say “representative”
4 Wait for agent

Disputing Errors: Step by Step

Credit report errors are more common than you might think—about 25% of consumers have at least one error on their reports, according to FTC studies. Successfully disputing errors can improve your score and help you qualify for better rates. For a detailed walkthrough, see our complete guide to disputing credit report errors.

What Can You Dispute?

Dispute-able Examples
Incorrect personal info Wrong name, address, SSN
Accounts not yours Fraudulent accounts
Wrong account status Marked late when paid on time
Duplicate accounts Same account listed twice
Incorrect balances Wrong balance or credit limit
Old negative items Items older than 7 years
Bankruptcy older than 10 years Should be removed

Dispute Process

Step What Happens
1 You file dispute (online, phone, mail)
2 Bureau contacts creditor/furnisher
3 Furnisher investigates (30 days)
4 Bureau updates your report
5 Bureau notifies you of result

What to Include in a Dispute

Document Purpose
Full name Identification
Current address Contact information
Social Security Number Account matching
Item you’re disputing Specific account/info
Why it’s wrong Clear explanation
Supporting documents Proof (statements, letters)

Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock

Both credit freezes and locks prevent new accounts from being opened in your name, but they work differently. Understanding the distinction matters for your overall credit protection strategy.

Feature Freeze Lock
Legal protection Yes (federal law) Varies by service
Speed to lift Minutes to 3 days Instant
Cost Free Often paid subscription
PIN required Yes Usually app-based
Available from All bureaus Not all bureaus

Recommendation: Use the free credit freeze unless you need instant unlock frequently.

Credit Monitoring Services

Service Bureau Cost
Experian CreditWorks Experian Free-$24.99/mo
Equifax Core Credit Equifax Free-$19.95/mo
TransUnion Credit Monitoring TransUnion Free-$29.95/mo
Credit Karma TransUnion, Equifax Free
Annual Credit Report All three Free (once/year)

If a Bureau Won’t Fix an Error

Escalation Options

Step Action
1 Re-dispute with additional documentation
2 Contact the furnisher directly
3 Add a consumer statement to your report
4 File complaint with CFPB
5 Consult consumer law attorney

CFPB Complaint

How Details
Online consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Phone 1-855-411-2372
What to include Bureau name, issue, timeline, documentation

Bureaus typically respond to CFPB complaints within 15 days.

Bottom Line

Bureau Main Number Freeze Number
Experian 1-888-397-3742 1-888-397-3742
Equifax 1-800-685-1111 1-800-349-9960
TransUnion 1-800-916-8800 1-888-909-8872
Free Reports 1-877-322-8228
CFPB Complaints 1-855-411-2372