Credit-reporting agencies maintain and distribute public and private credit information on people around the world. Private information is provided by creditors that report individual credit account activity to the agency. Public information is gathered from court records, such as bankruptcy filings and civil judgments. The information is included in individual credit reports that the credit agencies sell to banks, credit card companies and other lending institutions. Creditors rely on information on the credit reports to help make lending decisions.
Experian
Experian reports on its website that it maintains credit information on about 215 million people in the United States. In addition to collecting credit information, the company sells mailing lists to banks, credit card companies and other businesses looking for new customers. According to the website, about 100 million addresses provided by Experian receive a total of 20 billion pieces of promotional mail every year.
Equifax
Equifax has its headquarters in Atlanta and has operations in 15 other countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America, according to its website. The company reports that in September 2010 it ranked No. 29 in the 2010 InformationWeek 500. The list, according to Equifax, represents the nation's most innovative users of business technology.
TransUnion
TransUnion was founded in 1968 and maintains credit files on an estimated 500 million people around the world, according to its website. In addition to standard credit information, TransUnion sells criminal background information to apartment complexes, property management firms and other landlords. The companies order the background checks on potential renters as part of the rental application process. TransUnion's headquarters is in Chicago.
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