Please refer to the information included below to help with any questions you may have.   Feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives if the answer to your question is not found here.

What are the names of the Credit Bureaus?
What is a Credit Bureau?
How Does a Credit Bureau Receive Information?
What Information can be found on a Credit Report?
How Long is Information Reported to a Credit Bureau?
What is scoring?
What Rights do Individuals have regarding Credit Reports?
What can a Credit Repair Service do to improve credit?
Who can I contact for more information on my Credit Report?

What are the names of the Credit Bureaus?

The three major credit bureaus are Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax.
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What is a Credit Bureau?

A credit bureau is basically a storinghouse for consumer credit information. When a credit grantor allows an individual to purchase merchandise (furniture, automobiles, homes, clothing, etc.) on a buy now, pay later agreement, the individual is making the purchase using credit.

Before extending credit to an individual, a credit grantor has a right to know how the individual has paid their bills in the past. To find this out, credit grantors can gain access to a credit bureau and access the individual’s credit history.
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How Does a Credit Bureau Receive Information?

Subscribers of the credit bureaus periodically report payment information on individuals. For example, if an individual has a credit card such as a Visa or Master Card, the bank holding that credit card can report information on the account such as the balance, payment history, credit limit, payment terms, etc.

The credit bureau receives this information by either an automated system (computer disk or tape) or manually. The credit bureau subscribers determine how often this information is submitted to the credit bureau.
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What Information can be found on a Credit Report?

On a credit report and individual can find personal information including their name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, social security number, telephone number, and current and previous employment information.

An individual can also find information on how they have paid their bills. This includes any credit cards the individual may possess, loans, mortgages, and collection accounts. Both adverse and non-adverse information can be reported on the individual.

Public record information is also reported to credit bureaus. This information can include judgements, tax liens, foreclosures, and bankruptcies.

The inquiry section of the credit report informs the individual what companies have accessed their credit report. According to federal law these inquiries must retained on the credit report for specified time frames.

The promotional inquiry section informs the individual what companies have received their name as a part of a promotional list sold by the credit bureau. Companies receiving these lists receive information limited to the individual’s name and address if they meet specific criteria set forth by the company purchasing the list.
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How Long is Information Reported to a Credit Bureau?

Legally, any adverse information can be reported for seven years from the date of last transaction while being handled by the credit grantor. Public record information such as a Civil Judgement is generally reported for seven years form the date they are filed. Unpaid federal tax liens are reported indefinitely. Once the federal tax lien is paid, it is reported seven years from the paid date.

Bankruptcy information can legally be reported for ten years. Accounts that are included in a bankruptcy can continue to be reported to an individual’s credit report for seven years from the date of last transaction while being handled by the credit grantor.

Legally, an inquiry made to an individual’s credit report for employment purposes must be reported for a minimum of two years. An inquiry made for any other purpose must be reported for a minimum of one year.
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What is scoring?

A credit score is an evaluation of an individual’s ability to pay back debt. Credit grantors use scoring models to make quick and easy lending decisions. A score is not part of an individual’s credit report and can be interpreted differently depending on the credit grantor.
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What Rights do Individuals have regarding their Credit Report?

The right to receive a report  
The right to dispute inaccurate information:
The right to add a statement of dispute:
The right to "opt-out" of promotional lists:
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The right to receive a report:

Many individuals believe that credit bureaus are storing and selling credit reports and there is no way for an individual to see their own report. This is not true. A person receiving their individual report will actually see more information on that report than a credit bureau subscriber purchasing the report. This information includes promotional inquiries, suppressed information, and inquires reported when a consumer requests their own report.

Individuals who have been denied credit, insurance, employment, or any other benefit based in whole, or in part on information received from a credit bureau have a right to receive a free report within sixty days of the denial. Individuals who reside in the states of Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont have a right to receive one free copy of their report per year. Individuals that reside in Georgia can receive two free credit reports per year. Individuals not residing in "free states" that have not been denied credit; etc. can receive their report for a fee (generally $8).
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The right to dispute inaccurate information:

While the credit industry constantly strives to maintain one hundred percent accurate information, this is unfortunately not always the case. When an individual recognizes inaccuracies on their credit report, they have the right to dispute the information with the credit bureau.

Once the credit bureau receives a dispute they are required to comply with specific time frames and procedures to complete the dispute process. At the conclusion of the dispute process, the credit bureau is required to provide the individual with an updated credit report.
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The right to add a statement of dispute:

At the conclusion of a dispute if an individual continues to disagree with the disputed information, that individual has the right to add a statement of dispute up to 100 words setting forth the pertinent facts of the dispute.
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The right to "opt-out" of promotional lists:

An individual can elect to not be included in promotional lists sold by the credit bureau.
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It is important to remember that the only thing that removes accurate adverse information is the passage of time. Credit repair services charge individuals to dispute their credit reports with the hopes that the credit bureau will not be able to comply with the imposed timeframes. They are in a sense charging consumers for a service that an individual can complete themselves for free. Credit repair services are often unable to deliver what they have promised.
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Who can I contact?

For more information on aquiring your personal credit report we suggest contacting RTK directly at:

Toll Free
1-800-829-0529
In NJ 
1-609-936-2741

Fax
1-609-936-2859

Postal Address
ATTN: Right To Know
14 Washington Rd.
Colonial Building
Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

E-Mail
info@righttoknow.com

For specific credit related information you should contact the bureau from which your report was drawn or one of the consumer help organizations listed below.

Experian
When calling this number the consumer should refer to a Consumer Review
Service Report, if applicable.
Phone: 1-888-EXPERIAN

Equifax
P O Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Phone: 1-800-685-1111    |    Fax: 770-612-2575

Trans Union Corporation
Consumer Relations Center
P O Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
Phone: 1-800-916-8800


Ralph Nader’s Center For Responsive Law operates a Freedom Of Information Clearinghouse, which may be helpful in your search for personal data. The Clearinghouse is available to assist you by phone or by mail. You may contact them at:

Freedom Of Information Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 19367
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-588-7790

The Better Business Bureau
4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703-247-3667    |    Fax: 703-243-5415

The National Fraud Information Center
Phone: 1-800-876-7060

The Federal Trade Commission, Fraud Division
6th & Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20580
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