National Credit Reporting Organizations

There are four national credit reporting organizations: Experian, Equifax, Transunion and Innovis. These organizations have reports that list your individual and joint credit accounts, including, but limited, to credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, collection agency accounts, judgments and foreclosures. Every account you have doesn't report to every agency, and so it is important to review your individual reports frequently to make sure they are correct. Credit is important in today's society, and it is vital that you make sure you know what is being reported by each credit reporting agency.

Experian

Experian is one of the foremost credit reporting organizations, and its reports are frequently used by businesses. You are able to access your credit reports, but you are no longer able to purchase your true Experian FICO score. Experian and other credit monitoring services will give you a FAKO score, but that is not the same score that people pulling your credit will see.
Contact information for Experian:
Mail: Experian
P.O. Box 9556
Allen TX 75013
Phone: 1-888-397-3742

Equifax

Equifax allows you to purchase your credit report and your real credit score (FICO), and it also provides a monthly credit monitoring service that shows you all updates to your Equifax report and any changes in your score for a monthly fee.
Contact information for Equifax:
Mail: Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Phone: 1-888-766-0008

Transunion

Transunion also allows you to purchase your credit report and your real credit score (FICO), and it also provides a credit monitoring service (Truecredit) that provides you with daily updates and changes to all three credit reports for a monthly fee.
Contact information for Transunion:
Mail: Transunion
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Phone: 1-800-916-8800

Innovis

Innovis is a lesser-known credit reporting agency, and usually its reports don't contain most of your credit accounts. It is also the least checked credit report by any credit-granting business or agency. You can request your Innovis report, but there is no way to get your Innovis score.
Contact information for Innovis:
By Mail: Innovis
Attention: Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 1358
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1358
By Phone: 1-800-540-2505

How to Get Your Reports

The government has made it so every person can receive a free copy of her credit reports every year through annualcreditreport.com (see Resources), and there is no charge for your reports. You may be required to pay a fee if you wish to get your score though.