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Resources

Official Government and Industry Resources

Free credit reports

annualcreditreport.com

The only official source for free credit reports authorized by federal law. Allows you to request free credit reports from all three bureaus weekly. No payment, no signup, no upselling.

This is the website you should use for getting your credit reports. Other websites offering "free credit reports" may charge for additional services or share your information with marketing partners.

Government agencies

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The federal agency with primary responsibility for consumer financial protection. Handles complaints about credit reporting, debt collection, and other financial issues.

  • Website: consumerfinance.gov
  • File a complaint: consumerfinance.gov/complaint
  • Consumer education: consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools

The CFPB complaint process:

  1. You file a complaint online
  2. The CFPB forwards it to the company
  3. The company has 60 days to respond
  4. The complaint and response are recorded in the public CFPB complaint database
  5. The CFPB monitors complaint patterns and pursues enforcement when warranted

CFPB complaints are taken seriously by most companies. Many issues that bureaus or collectors initially refuse to address get resolved when a CFPB complaint is filed.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The federal agency with broad consumer protection authority, including over debt collection.

  • Website: ftc.gov
  • Report fraud or scams: reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • Identity theft resources: identitytheft.gov
  • Consumer education: consumer.ftc.gov

The FTC's identitytheft.gov is the central federal resource for identity theft victims. It can generate identity theft reports recognized by credit bureaus and creditors.

Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve oversees banks. The Federal Reserve Banks publish consumer education materials and handle complaints about banks they oversee.

  • Consumer information: federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

Oversees national banks. Handles complaints about national banks.

  • Website: occ.gov
  • Help for consumers: helpwithmybank.gov

Department of Justice

For serious matters involving discrimination in lending or large-scale violations.

  • Website: justice.gov

State resources

State attorney general offices

Each state has an attorney general office with a consumer protection division. State AGs can pursue actions against companies operating in their state.

To find your state attorney general:

  • naag.org (National Association of Attorneys General) has a directory
  • Search "[your state] attorney general consumer protection"

Some state AGs particularly active in consumer protection:

  • New York Attorney General
  • California Attorney General
  • Washington State Attorney General
  • Massachusetts Attorney General

State consumer protection offices

Sometimes separate from the AG, sometimes part of it. Handle consumer complaints about businesses operating in the state.

State banking departments

Oversee state-chartered banks and lenders. Handle complaints about institutions they regulate.

Credit bureaus

Equifax

  • Website: equifax.com
  • Consumer help: equifax.com/personal
  • Disputes: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute
  • Mail address for disputes:

    Equifax Information Services LLC P.O. Box 740256 Atlanta, GA 30374

  • Phone (general): 1-888-378-4329
  • Phone (fraud alert): 1-888-836-6351

Experian

  • Website: experian.com
  • Consumer help: experian.com/consumer
  • Disputes: experian.com/disputes
  • Mail address for disputes:

    Experian P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013

  • Phone (general): 1-888-397-3742
  • Phone (fraud alert): 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion

  • Website: transunion.com
  • Consumer help: transunion.com/credit-help
  • Disputes: transunion.com/credit-disputes/dispute-your-credit
  • Mail address for disputes:

    TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016

  • Phone (general): 1-800-916-8800
  • Phone (fraud alert): 1-800-680-7289

Specialty credit reporting agencies

Beyond the three main bureaus, specialty agencies maintain reports on specific aspects of your financial life. You are entitled to free reports from these as well.

ChexSystems

Tracks bank account history. Used by banks when you apply to open a new account.

  • Website: chexsystems.com

LexisNexis

Maintains various consumer reports including for insurance underwriting.

  • Website: consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com

Innovis

A smaller credit bureau that some lenders use.

  • Website: innovis.com

CoreLogic Credco

Used in mortgage lending.

  • Website: corelogic.com

For a comprehensive list of consumer reporting agencies, the CFPB publishes an annual list at consumerfinance.gov.

Credit counseling

National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)

Network of nonprofit credit counseling agencies. Many offer free or low-cost help with budgeting, debt management, and financial planning.

  • Website: nfcc.org

Financial Counseling Association of America

Another network of nonprofit financial counseling agencies.

  • Website: fcaa.org

Identity theft

identitytheft.gov

The FTC's identity theft resource. Comprehensive recovery plans, identity theft reports recognized by industry, letter generators for disputes.

IRS

If your tax return has been impacted by identity theft.

  • Website: irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams

Bankruptcy resources

U.S. Courts

Federal courts handle bankruptcy cases. Information on how bankruptcy works:

  • Website: uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy

Department of Justice U.S. Trustee Program

Oversees bankruptcy administration.

  • Website: justice.gov/ust

Legal help

Legal Services Corporation

Federal program funding civil legal aid for low-income Americans. Find legal aid in your area:

  • Website: lsc.gov

National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)

Network of consumer protection attorneys.

  • Website: naca.net

More on finding a consumer protection attorney

Free resources from industry

MyFICO

FICO's consumer-facing service. Provides FICO scores from all three bureaus. Has a free tier with limited features and paid tiers with more comprehensive reporting.

  • Website: myfico.com

Credit Karma

Free service showing VantageScore from TransUnion and Equifax. Useful for monitoring score changes but does not show FICO scores or full credit report data.

  • Website: creditkarma.com

Be cautious of paid services

Many paid credit services provide little value beyond what is available free. Specifically watch out for:

Credit repair companies

The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) regulates these companies. Many are scams or provide little value beyond what consumers can do themselves for free.

Credit monitoring services

Useful for some people, but free options exist. Paid services often charge $20-30/month for features available free elsewhere.

Identity theft protection

Some value, but most of what they do is automated monitoring you can do yourself with free tools.

"Credit improvement" courses

Education on credit is widely available for free. Paid courses rarely offer information you cannot find yourself.

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