CONTACT:

Carol Odell, Executive Director/CEO
Better Business Bureau of the Pikes Peak Region
Telephone: 719/636-5076 extension 111
Fax: 719/636-5078
Email: carolo@coloradosprings.bbb.org
www.coloradosprings.bbb.org

Credit Bureau Letters: A necessity, not a nuisance

Local consumers may soon be receiving letters regarding their credit report from Equifax, Experian or Trans Union Corp. With the fear of identity theft, many consumers may be hesitant to provide personal information such as their Social Security Number or Date of Birth that is requested in the letter. However, this information is needed to receive the accurate credit report. All three of these agencies are legitimate credit reporting bureaus. The credit reporting agencies are required by the Colorado Consumer Credit Reporting Act, enacted July 31, 1997, to notify Colorado residents if they have received negative information, or three or more inquiries have been made to the consumer’s file.

Under the Colorado Consumer Credit Reporting Act consumers are allowed to request one free credit report per year from each credit reporting agency. Consumers concerned with the number of inquiries should keep in mind that credit reporting agencies sell their names to pre-approved credit card offers. They are giving out your name, not your report and this denotes an inquiry. Consumers can opt out of marketing lists for the three major credit reporting agencies by calling 888/567-8688.

The major credit reporting agencies are as follows:

EQUIFAX

800/685-1111
PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

EXPERIAN

888/397-3742
PO Box 949, Allen, TX 75013-0949

TRANS UNION

800/916-8800
PO Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064-0390

Please contact the Better Business Bureau for further information at 636-1155.

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