List of Credit Reporting Agencies

Your credit score is determined using information included in your credit report. Each month, your creditors update your credit history, including the amount of your current debt, late payments or defaults. Creditors report this data to the three major credit reporting agencies. These credit reporting agencies track your relationships with your creditors.

Experian

Employing over 15,000 people in 40 countries, Experian is a global information agency. Experian offers businesses a range of analytical tools to mitigate the loss of revenue. Businesses can assess the credit risk of a new customer or use information provided by the agency to find the best location for generating the most sales. The agency reports both business and personal credit scores to its clients. To help consumers understand their score, Experian uses a PLUS score system which gives details on how to improve the credit rating.

Equifax

Equifax has a history spanning 100 years of credit reporting. The company was founded under than name Retail Credit Co. and was used by insurers and lenders to obtain information on their applicants credit history. Equifax is headquarted in Atlanta and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide. The agency is a member of the stock index Standard & Poor's 500, which includes many of the largest companies on the stock market.

TransUnion

TransUnion boasts a clientele of 50,000 businesses worldwide with an estimated 500 million consumers in its database. The primary focus of TransUnion is customer credit reporting and information management. TransUnion began as a railcar leasing company and has grown to service customers across five continents. You can monitor your credit scores from all three credit bureaus using TransUnion's All-in-One credit monitoring program. For small business owners, TransUnion offers products to help mitigate risk. For example, independent landlords can check tenant credit history using their SmartMove program.