How to Report Information to a Credit Bureau

A credit bureau is an organization or corporation that catalogs financial data to categorize and track an individual's money management and debt repayment abilities. The credit bureau's data is used to calculate a person's credit score, which is then used by banks and financial institutions to make lending determinations. Report inaccurate or missing information on your credit report to avoid a damaged credit score.

Instructions

1

Review your credit report. Double-check your personal data (name, phone number and address) and current outstanding debt, which lists your current loans and mortgages.

2

Write down any information that is inaccurate, and any personal data that is missing. This may include a change in address or name, or the failure of a bank to notify the credit bureau that you have paid off a specific debt.

3

Report the information to the credit bureau. Draft a written letter to the bureau and clearly state the personal or financial information that you wish to report. Sign the letter in pen. Make a photocopy of the letter and mail the original via certified mail to the credit bureau (see Resources). Include any forms or documents that back up your report. For example, if you are reporting the payment of a debt, include a letter or document from your bank that shows that the mortgage or loan has been repaid.

4

Wait two to three weeks for the credit bureau to receive the information you've reported. Follow-up with a phone call to the credit bureau's customer service department. The customer service representative will notify you whether they have received your report, and when you information will be updated. This process may take several weeks, depending on the amount of correspondence the bureau has received.