What to Do If a Credit Reporting Agency Refuses to Give a Report?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus --- Equifax, Experian and Transunion --- once a year. Customers can also request a free copy if they are denied credit for any reason. Beyond that, most customers can expect to pay a small fee in order to receive a copy of their report. If you have requested a copy of your report under any of these conditions, but you have not received it, you'll need to take action in a timely manner.

Instructions

1

Contact the credit reporting agency from which you never received your report. Call the agency using the information found on its website to inform the representative that a report was not received after request. Ask for an explanation. Provide him with the date the report was requested and the method you used. If you have proof of your payment method (if a fee was paid), volunteer to mail or fax a copy to the person's attention. Ask for the person's name and direct phone number and make note of it. If the agency representative refuses to send you another copy of your report, proceed to the next step.

2

File a written dispute. Draft a letter to the agency containing all of the information you told the representative on the phone. Briefly describe your conversation with the representative and include the person's name and direct line. Include any documentation proving your original request, such as a bank statement showing a fee was paid. Make copies and mail the letter certified to the dispute address listed on its website and wait up to 30 days for a response.

3

Consult with an attorney if you do not receive a reply, or if the reply you receive is a form letter denying you a copy of your credit report. If you have paid a fee or are eligible to receive a free copy of your credit report, it's likely the reporting agency has violated federal laws in denying you a copy. You could be entitled to punitive damages through a lawsuit or settlement. An attorney will be aware of any state laws that have also been violated.

4

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission using its online complaint form located in the Resources section.