Credit Bureau Phone Numbers & Addresses (Updated 2026)

The first time I found an error on my credit report, I sat at the kitchen table holding the printout and felt completely stuck. The report said to ‘contact the credit bureau,’ as if that were a helpful sentence. It wasn’t. I didn’t know which bureau to call, what to say, or whether I’d end up on hold for forty-five minutes.

This post fixes that. It has the phone numbers and mailing addresses for Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis — sorted by what you’re actually trying to do: dispute an error, freeze your report, or get your free credit report. I pulled these from each bureau’s published instructions and federal consumer guidance, and I checked them for this 2026 update.

Which number to call depends on what you need

Here’s the quick-reference version. If you’re disputing an error, a freeze, or asking for a report, each goes somewhere different.

For free credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com, call 877-322-8228. That line handles report requests only — for disputes, use the bureau contacts below.

Equifax phone numbers and mailing addresses

Call 866-349-5191 to dispute something on your Equifax report, or use the phone number printed on the report itself. You can also file disputes through your myEquifax account on the Equifax website.

Mail credit report disputes to:

Equifax Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256

For a credit freeze, call 888-298-0045 or handle it through myEquifax. Mail freeze requests to:

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788

One thing that tripped me up: Equifax has different addresses for different services, and the document requirements vary too. Before you mail anything, check what Equifax wants for your specific request and use the matching address.

Experian phone numbers and mailing addresses

Experian wants you to use the phone number on your Experian credit report for dispute help. You can also submit and track disputes through the Dispute Center on the Experian website.

Mail credit report disputes to:

Experian
P.O. Box 4500
Allen, TX 75013

For credit freezes, or fraud and identity theft help, call 888-397-3742. You can also manage a freeze through your Experian account. Mail freeze requests to:

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013

One note: if you’re calling about a paid Experian membership — a subscription charge or cancellation — that’s a separate support line. Use the membership support option in your account, not the dispute number.

TransUnion phone numbers and mailing addresses

Call 800-916-8800 for TransUnion disputes and consumer relations. A representative picks up Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.

Mail credit report disputes to:

TransUnion Consumer Solutions
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000

For a credit freeze, call 888-909-8872 for the automated line anytime. If you want a human, call 800-916-8800 during the hours above. Mail freeze requests to:

TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094

TransUnion also handles disputes and freezes online through its Service Center. As with the other two, check the instructions for your request before sending documents.

Which credit bureaus should you actually contact?

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each keep their own credit file. The same error can show up on one, two, or all three, so first figure out which ones have the problem.

A fraud alert requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. It doesn’t block access to your report. An initial fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed.

A security freeze is different — it restricts access to your report for new credit applications. Anyone can place one, even without a history of identity theft. Both freezes and fraud alerts are free, and neither requires a paid monitoring subscription. That last part surprised me; I assumed one of them came with a monthly fee.

One honest caveat: if fraudulent accounts are already on your report, an alert or a freeze won’t remove them. You’ll need to address those accounts separately.

What to have ready before you call or write

Credit bureaus verify your identity before handling most requests. Have these in front of you first — it saves a second trip around the kitchen table.

• Identity details: your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and any previous addresses.
• Credit report information: the report itself, plus any confirmation number or existing dispute number.
• The specific error: the account, what’s wrong, and the exact correction you want.
• Supporting documents: payment records, account statements, payoff letters, or identity theft documentation that back up your dispute.
• Proof of identity and address: copies of the identification and address documents the bureau requests.

If you’re mailing a dispute, send copies and keep your originals. Save a copy of your letter and attachments. Certified mail with a return receipt gives you proof of delivery — not required for every request, but useful to have.

You can also go online to submit requests and save confirmations, or call to clarify instructions. No single method guarantees a particular outcome — it’s about matching the method to the task.

Free credit reports by phone, mail, or online

You can get a free online credit report from each major bureau once a week through AnnualCreditReport.com. That weekly program is separate from your legal right to a free report from each bureau every 12 months.

By phone, call 877-322-8228. By mail, download the Annual Credit Report Request Form from the same site, fill it out, and send it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Use this address for report requests only — disputes go to the individual bureau’s dispute address above.

If a lender denies you based on your report, the denial notice names the bureau it used. You can request a free report from that bureau within 60 days of receiving the notice. Worth knowing: AnnualCreditReport.com doesn’t include free credit scores. Experian offers a free FICO score through its free account, and some credit cards provide FICO scores at no cost.

If the bureau doesn’t fix it

Write down the date they received your dispute, your confirmation number, and copies of everything you sent. You’ll want all of it if you have to follow up.

Credit bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate a dispute. That window can stretch to 45 days if you disputed information after receiving a free annual report, or if you add relevant information during the initial investigation. The bureau generally must notify you of the results within five business days of finishing.

If the error sticks, read the explanation carefully and figure out what still needs fixing. Contact the company that furnished the information and the bureau. Be specific about the problem and attach the evidence that supports your side.

For anything still unresolved, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Its current process asks you to dispute directly with the credit reporting company first, then include your dispute history, the bureau’s response, and the outcome you want.

Innovis: the fourth bureau

Innovis keeps credit information separately from the other three. It’s worth contacting if you’re doing a full sweep — you can request your report, dispute an error, or manage a freeze there too.

Call 800-540-2505. The consumer assistance mailing address is:

Innovis Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 530088
Atlanta, GA 30353-0088

Check Innovis’s instructions before mailing, and note that freezing your Innovis report is a separate request — it doesn’t happen when you freeze the other three.

Questions people actually ask

Does contacting a credit bureau hurt my score? No. Calling, or requesting your own report, won’t lower it. If a dispute changes something on your report, the score may shift because of the updated information — the dispute itself doesn’t carry a penalty.

What if the bureau can’t verify my identity online? Follow their instructions for another verification path. You may end up calling or mailing copies of ID and proof of address. A failed online check doesn’t automatically mean there’s an error on your report or that someone’s been snooping.

Can someone else handle it for me? They can help prepare the request, but the bureau may want authorization before discussing your information with them. It depends on the request — TransUnion, for example, allows certain freeze requests from a spouse or someone with valid power of attorney after identity verification.

How do I freeze my child’s credit? For a child under 16, follow each bureau’s instructions for a protected consumer credit freeze. You’ll need documents proving your identity, your child’s identity, and your authority to make the request. These usually have to be mailed because the bureau reviews the documents in person. Contact each bureau separately.

Can a bureau refuse to investigate? Yes — if it reasonably decides your dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, for example if it doesn’t identify the information at issue or give enough detail to investigate. It must tell you within five business days and explain why. Read the notice and send any missing information.

You don’t need to memorize any of this. Save the page, and next time the kitchen table moment happens, you’ll already know the number to dial. Start with one thing today: pull your report at AnnualCreditReport.com and check for typos. It takes ten minutes, and it’s the first step to knowing exactly where to start.

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