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There are three nationwide credit bureaus (also known as credit or consumer reporting agencies) that supply American consumer credit reports and credit scores. Each bureau has a slightly different approach to its reporting methods, so your report and score can vary from bureau to bureau. This directory provides a complete overview of the consumer reporting agencies, what they do, how they impact you and how you can interact with them.
In the United States, there are three major national credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. These agencies collect consumer information and establish reports for each individual. Each bureau collects information individually, so the reports won’t match across agencies. Individuals have the right to order one free credit report, per bureau, once a year.
The lesser-known reporting agencies include CSC Credit Services, Credit Technologies and Global Payments.
You can access and review your credit report at any time, although you may have to pay for it if you’re trying to access it more than once a year from the same agency. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) states that creditors and businesses evaluating your application for credit have the right to review your report.
Landlords, employers and insurance companies can only access your credit report if you allow them to. They can only do so when reviewing your application for a home rental, employment or an insurance policy.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection agency. This agency enforces regulations that the credit reporting agencies must follow. The consumer reporting agencies report on information that can significantly impact an individual, so it’s their responsibility to ensure the data is accurate. The FTC also enforces the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Under the FCRA, each consumer is allowed to request a free copy of their credit report (per agency) every 12 months.
If a consumer finds inaccurate information on their report, both the credit reporting agency and the creditor that filed the information must investigate their claim. You can file a credit dispute about the information on your credit report by reaching out to the consumer reporting agency directly—this is done by writing a 609 letter. If the credit reporting agency doesn’t find your claim frivolous, they typically have 30 days to investigate.
The credit reporting agency will likely share the details of your dispute with the creditor that originally supplied the information. That creditor will need to investigate on its end and report its findings to the consumer reporting agency. When the investigation is complete, the credit reporting agency should notify you in writing. If there are changes to your credit report as a result of the investigation, the reporting agency must provide you with a free copy of your updated credit report.
Some consumers choose to bypass the credit reporting agency and dispute directly with the original creditor. If the creditor finds your dispute is correct, it should inform the credit reporting agency of the mistake so your credit report can be fixed.
Either way, you have every right to try to repair your credit.
Each of the three major credit bureaus might have a different version of your credit report. One agency may not have received all the information that another one has, resulting in slightly different reports. This matters because, when you apply for a loan or credit or need to pass a credit check for an employer, you never know which credit reporting agency they’ll reach out to.
To prepare yourself, you’ll want to see what your lender or potential employer is seeing. For example, your credit history could look very different if your lender pulled an Experian report instead of a TransUnion report. You’ll want to check your credit report with every agency every year to ensure there are no mistakes and you’ll know what people will see when you apply for credit or other applications.
Founded in 1968, TransUnion is the smallest of the three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. Currently, TransUnion provides a credit score based on the VantageScore 3.0 model for its customers. TransUnion provides services to consumers in over 30 countries. The company’s slogan is “Making Trust Possible.”
You can request your free credit report from TransUnion (once every 12 months) by visiting this page and selecting “Get started” under the “Free Annual Credit Report” section.
Under the FCRA, every consumer reporting agency (including TransUnion) must provide consumers with a free copy of their credit report every 12 months (per the consumer’s request). After your free report, you can sign up for the TransUnion monthly subscription model. For $24.95 per month (plus tax where applicable), you receive your TransUnion Score & Report as part of its credit monitoring service.
In October 2017, the TransUnion website was hacked and the attackers had implemented a system that redirected visitors to download a malicious system disguising itself as an Adobe Flash update.
Equifax was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, Equifax “operates or has investments” in 24 countries internationally. Equifax offers scores based on both the VantageScore 3.0 model and the FICO Score 8 model.
You can get a free copy of your Equifax credit report every 12 months. Go to this page and select “Get Started.”
The FCRA requires that all credit reporting agencies hand out one free credit report annually if a consumer requests it. The Equifax Complete Premier gives you access to your credit score and credit report on a monthly basis for $19.95 per month.
Equifax had a significant security breach in 2017. During this breach, attackers accessed 147 million personal accounts.
Experian is the newest of the major three credit bureaus as it was founded in 1996. The company is based in Dublin, Ireland, and supports clients in more than 100 countries. The credit scores provided by Experian are based on the FICO Score 8 model.
You can get a free copy of your Experian credit report every 12 months. To request your free report, go to this page and select the “Get your free credit report” button.
You are legally allowed to request one free credit report from Experian every 12 months. If you want an extra report, Experian charges you $19.99 per request for both your credit report and your FICO score.
Experian has had two known security issues. The first was announced in October 2015 and impacted as many as 15 million American consumers. The company had a second breach in 2020 in South Africa.
Accurate Background
provides background checks for employers. The company has been in business for over 23 years and prides itself on finding accurate data for the benefit of its customers and their candidates.
Apps: N/A
The details of your Accurate Background report will depend on what type of report you get. However, in general, the report will include personal identification information and data about you that an employer couldn’t easily find online.
If you’re an existing Accurate Background client, you can log into your client portal to review your reports.
If you’re an individual who’s having an Accurate Background report made about them, you can contact the company’s support team for information about your report.
Accurate Background has not had a data breach to date.
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has over 30 years of experience in screening candidates for employers. In addition to the United States, ADP provides employment reporting in over 170 countries.
The details of your ADP report can include criminal background checks, employment verification, credit history information and more.
If you’re an existing ADP client, you can log into your account to review your reports.
If you believe ADP had provided an employer with inaccurate information about you, you have the right to dispute the information by contacting ADP.
You will need to reach out to ADP directly to get a quote for employment reporting based on your needs.
In 2015 and 2016, ADP had data breaches that allowed fraudsters to access client information.
BackgroundChecks.com offers background screening for employers or for individuals who want to screen themselves. The company is one of the founding members of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA®) and is also a co-founder of the Expungement Clearinghouse. The company has helped over 17,000 organizations with their employment screening needs.
Backgroundchecks.com provides employers with reports that include criminal data, employment verification, education verification and credit history.
You can order a report directly through the Backgroundchecks.com website.
Employers can receive volume discounts for ordering multiple reports.
Backgroundchecks.com has not had a data breach to date.
Checkr uses AI technology for more accurate and efficient background checks. The company launched in 2014 and believes in giving candidates a fair chance to work by connecting employers to more diversified candidate pools.
Apps: N/A
A Checkr report can include information about a person’s criminal record (including sex offender status and terror watch lists), driving records, employment verification, education verification, drug screening, credit checks and SSN verification.
Checkr’s “Candidate Portal” allows individuals to check on the status of their background check and receive a copy of their report, as well as access additional information. Clients also use the online platform to request candidate screenings and review reports.
Pricing for a report will depend on the type of report and the total number of reports you need. On average, Checkr prices range from $21 to $47 per report.
Checkr has not had a data breach to date. However, there have been multiple lawsuits filed against Checkr by individuals who claim the company reported obsolete information to employers.
EmpInfo
looks to help employers, employees and verifiers in the employment screening process. To date, EmpInfo has verified over half a million applications and is used by some of the world’s most successful companies.
Apps: N/A
When an employer requests a report from EmpInfo, the report can contain employment history and income history.
You can obtain a report directly on the EmpInfo website.
Employers and verifiers have to contact EmpInfo directly for report pricing.
EmpInfo has not had a data breach to date.
First Advantage Corp
provides a one-stop shop for comprehensive background checks. More than 35,000 companies internationally use First Advantage Corp for their employee screening needs.
First Advantage provides verification for education, licenses, credentials, employment history and immigration status. Additionally, employers can order report information on credit checks, criminal background screenings and social media screenings.
Clients can access an employment report directly on the First Advantage website. Additionally, people who have had First Advantage create a report about them and report incorrect information can start a dispute on the site.
First Advantage is an international company offering a wide variety of detailed employment reports. To get an accurate price quote, customers will need to reach out to the company directly.
First Advantage had one data breach in 2007 that impacted one customer.