Ordering Paper Credit Reports - Information Inside

[IodineNightSky]

I wanted to share the following information for anyone trying to order their full paper credit reports from the CRAs because in looking at each of their websites they don't make it easy to find the info you need to order a full paper copy of the reports because they're always trying to sell you on their monthly services. It took me a while to find this info so I want to post it in case anyone has a hard time finding it.

 

I was able to order all three with three phone calls - took a total of about 20 minutes.

All three calls were automated and I didn't need to speak with anyone.

Here is the info for each of the three:

 

Ordered EXPERIAN paper report from 888-397-3742.

Paid $8.

I was provided with a confirmation number for the purchase.

All automated.

Said I should receive report within 10 days.

 

Ordered TRANSUNION paper report from 800-888-4213.

Paid $0 (never asked for card info).

Not provided with a confirmation number.

All automated.

Said report will be mailed within 4 days and arrive in 6-8 days.

 

Ordered EQUIFAX paper report from 866-349-5191.

Paid $8.

I was provided with a confirmation number for the purchase.

All automated.

Didn’t say how long it would take to get the report.

 

 

Each of the three tried to sell me on their monthly services and kept trying to redirect me to their websites. They all also tried to sell me my "credit score" which can simply be declined.

Again, every second of all three calls was automated. I live in CA if that matters at all in this process.

Painless process once I found all the phone numbers.

[FullofHope]

Thanks for passing along this info!

[Apatterson]

Awesome. Thanks for the information!

[mfarmer]

Great share. Thank you

[TampaDude]

 

[kriish99]

thanks for sharing!!

[stacyppl]

So, the free annual reports are not available as mailed paper copies?

[themanwhocan]

So, the free annual reports are not available as mailed paper copies?

 

It looks like you have to call 1-877-322-8228 to get the annualcreditreport.com free reports mailed to you. If you use the website, they are available online and not mailed to you.

 

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports

[themanwhocan]

To buy a copy of your report, contact:

Equifax:1-800-685-1111; equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742; experian.com

TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800; transunion.com

This is from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reportsand the phone numbers are different than the ones reported by the OP. Perhaps they have multiple ways to get to the same phone trees.

Edited April 7, 2017 by themanwhocan

[DebtDave]

Newb/dumb question. If you have anyone's SSN, can you order paper copies via this method?

[mfarmer]

Only if you are committing fraud.

[DebtDave]

Only if you are committing fraud.

 

More like for checks on prospective rental tenants. Thinking of converting home into a rental and moving.

[DebtDave]

 

To buy a copy of your report, contact:

Equifax:1-800-685-1111; equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742; experian.com

TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800; transunion.com

This is from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reportsand the phone numbers are different than the ones reported by the OP. Perhaps they have multiple ways to get to the same phone trees.

 

 

BUMP. Go with these numbers. I tried the number for Experian posted by OP-Call was answered and I ended up ordering a "free" copy for DW since I was caught off gaurd. My understanding is that they will have 45 days to respond instead of 30 for disputes? Thing was the agent never asked to confirm my identity, I just stated I was her DH. She did ask about credit monitoring and about putting a fraud alert for 90 days and did ask about opting out.

 

Paid $9.94 for TU, automated and did not get a confirmation number. Ended up somehow paying $19.45 (something about an Insight score...) did get a confirmation number after which it was going to transfer the call(as to whom I don't know they didn't say, I just hung up). Both charges immediately showed up on my "sucky debit" so they've gone through at least.

[cashnocredit]

 

Only if you are committing fraud.

 

More like for checks on prospective rental tenants. Thinking of converting home into a rental and moving.

 

 

Use third parties that do landlord services for this and make sure you follow state and federal law regarding permissible purpose. Safest to ask an applicant for permission. In writing.

[CaptainABCD]

Great numbers!

 

Experian was flawless and got confirmation quickly. $12.

 

Equifax, which won't let me get a free credit report online nor a paid one online also appeared flawless up through the credit card billing portion. It gave me a confirmation number and then said "please wait while you are being transferred" and then went to a busy signal. Not sure what happened there or if I'll get it. Since I can't get it any other way (verification steps online are ridiculous, none of them are mine), I paid $11.50.

 

TransUnion didn't work at all, couldn't verify me. I did get that one with my free annual credit report, though.

[DebtDave]

Use third parties that do landlord services for this and make sure you follow state and federal law regarding permissible purpose. Safest to ask an applicant for permission. In writing.

 

Will do, of course it depends on what happens in the next year as recent sales are showing crazy gains in appreciation that are higher than the last bubble.

 

 

Great numbers!

 

Experian was flawless and got confirmation quickly. $12.

 

Equifax, which won't let me get a free credit report online nor a paid one online also appeared flawless up through the credit card billing portion. It gave me a confirmation number and then said "please wait while you are being transferred" and then went to a busy signal. Not sure what happened there or if I'll get it. Since I can't get it any other way (verification steps online are ridiculous, none of them are mine), I paid $11.50.

 

TransUnion didn't work at all, couldn't verify me. I did get that one with my free annual credit report, though.

 

I hung up on Equifax after that "being transferred" message after receiving a confirmation number. I am going to assume that the order went as my SUCKY DEBIT posted the purchase on my account.

[DebtDave]

BUMP: Got TU and Experian in the mail on Friday, so basically a full week turn around from order to receipt in mailbox. Did not check mail on Saturday to see if EQ had arrived but will check today.

 

Good news, DW's TU score up a dozen more points from last month (from a 570 in May 2016 to a 624 now without any active credit cleanup done other than just getting her SL current and PIF two cards that were carrying a balance).

 

Bad news, a CA working for DirecTV re-inserted a collections on her account in December. In total found five collections on TU and Ex: two medicals about to hit SOL, the DirecTV CA and two JDB owned collections(Portfolio Recovery) for store cards where the OC(World Financial Network Bank) doesn't even show up anywhere on either of those reports. Can also see where the various CAs have been checking her history but do appear to be slowing down in their frequency.

[shifter]

On 4/7/2017 at 6:52 PM, themanwhocan said:

To buy a copy of your report, contact:

 

Equifax:1-800-685-1111; equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742; experian.com

TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800; transunion.com

 

This is from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reportsand the phone numbers are different than the ones reported by the OP. Perhaps they have multiple ways to get to the same phone trees.

^

[pacemaker67]

I just ordered all 3 using the numbers in original post.  TU and EX were free, EQ was $11.00.  All came in a few days!

[Trapped by Fico]

I just called all 3 and ordered them over the phone. I was able to get all for free.. The trick is to just talk to a real person and tell them you tried the automated ordering but it wasn't working. They did it manually and never asked me for any payment.  Of course, YMMV

[burghdude]

I called the Experian number.  The system asked me for a credit card.  Every time I entered a card, the system said it was unable to process my card.  I used 3 different debit cards for accounts that have far more than the necessary $12 in them, but none worked.  Has anybody else had this issue?  Any alternative suggestions on how to get that report would be appreciated.  There was no way to get to a live human being, so I couldn't do that.  Thanks!

 

[burghdude]

The phone number for Innovis is 800-540-2505