How to Contact the Credit Bureaus: Dispute Addresses and Phone Numbers

To dispute something on your credit report by mail, send your letter to the bureau’s dispute address: Equifax at P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256; Experian at P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013; and TransUnion at P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016-2000. Each bureau also takes disputes online, and Equifax and TransUnion take them by phone.

This guide lists the current dispute addresses, phone numbers, and online options for all three bureaus, what to put in the envelope, and when certified mail is worth it.

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Credit Bureau Dispute Mailing Addresses

Addresses are from each bureau’s own dispute page: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Check them before you mail, since bureaus occasionally change them.

Use the dispute address, not another address you find online. Each bureau uses different P.O. boxes for disputes, credit report requests, fraud alerts, and freezes, and a letter sent to the wrong one can be delayed.

Credit Bureau Phone Numbers and Online Disputes

Phone numbers are from each bureau’s contact pages.

Should You Dispute by Mail, Online, or by Phone?

All three work, and the bureaus must investigate a dispute however it arrives. The difference is the record you keep.

A mailed dispute leaves you with a copy of exactly what you said, the documents you included, and the date you sent it. That record matters if the dispute comes back verified and you need a second round, or if you later file a complaint. An online form may limit how much you can explain or attach, and a phone call leaves no record of your own.

SmartDispute members mail their disputes for this reason. Here’s why SmartDispute requires mailed dispute letters.

What Should You Include in a Mailed Dispute?

• Your full name, current address, date of birth, and Social Security number
• The company that reported the item, and a partial account number
• Exactly what’s wrong (the field, the month, the amount) and why
• Copies of any documents that support your dispute, never originals
• A copy of a government-issued photo ID and a document showing your current address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement

The ID and proof of address help the bureau confirm the request is really from you. Our guide to the ID required for mailed disputes explains which documents work.

Be specific. Bureaus usually pass your dispute to the reporting company as a short code through a system called e-OSCAR, and a vague dispute becomes a vague code. Our guide to e-OSCAR dispute codes explains why.

Do You Need to Send Disputes by Certified Mail?

No. Certified mail isn’t required, and it’s optional. Regular first-class mail works for most disputes, and certified mail with a return receipt adds several dollars to every letter. TransUnion says it accepts both standard and certified mail.

Certified mail can be worth it when you expect to need proof of delivery, such as an identity theft dispute or an account you may take to court. For everything else, keep a copy of your letter and note the date you mailed it.

How Long Does a Credit Bureau Have to Respond?

Generally 30 days from when the bureau receives your dispute, or up to 45 days if you send more information during the investigation (15 U.S.C. 1681i). The bureau must send you the results within five business days after it finishes.

Sometimes a bureau answers with a letter saying it couldn’t confirm your identity, or that the request looks like it came from a third party. Our guide to credit bureau stall letters explains how to respond.

Should You Also Contact the Creditor?

Usually, yes. The bureaus don’t create the information on your report. A creditor or collector reports it, and that company can correct it at every bureau at once. SmartDispute’s approach is to send the first round to the reporting company and to each bureau showing the problem, on the same day. Our guides cover how that works for late payments and collection accounts.

Other Credit Bureau Addresses You May Need

• Free credit reports: request them at AnnualCreditReport.com, by phone at 1-877-322-8228, or by mail to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 (FTC). You can check each report once a week for free.
• Freezes and fraud alerts: each bureau uses separate addresses and forms. CreditInfoCenter’s guide to requesting a credit freeze walks through them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Equifax dispute address?

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

What is the Experian dispute address?

Experian, Dispute by Mail, P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013.

What is the TransUnion dispute address?

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

Can I dispute with the credit bureaus by phone?

Equifax and TransUnion take disputes by phone. Experian directs disputes online or by mail. A mailed dispute gives you the best record of what you disputed.

Do I have to send my dispute to all three bureaus?

Only to the bureaus that show the problem. Each bureau keeps its own file, so an error at one may not appear at the others.

Should I send a copy of my ID?

Yes, to the bureaus. Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID and proof of your current address. Don’t send your ID to the creditor or collector.

What’s the Next Step?

Pull your three credit reports, mark exactly what’s wrong at each bureau, and send each bureau that shows the problem its own letter at the address above, along with a letter to the company that reported it.

SmartDispute compares your three reports side by side and drafts suggested disputes for each bureau and each reporting company, with the right addresses, for you to review, change, and mail yourself. See how SmartDispute works.