How Do I Fix My Wrong Name at TransUnion?

Log into the TransUnion consumer portal, request your free annual credit report at TransUnion credit report page, or call the bureau for a mailed copy; the personal details section at the top of the report shows the name currently on file, letting you spot typos, theft signs, or legal‑change mismatches before you move to the document‑gathering step.

• Online account: sign in, select 'View Credit Report,' and read the name line under 'Personal Information.'
• Free annual report: use AnnualCreditReport.com, choose TransUnion, and locate the name in the report header.
• Phone or mail request: call 1‑800‑680‑7289 or send a written request; the mailed report includes the same name field.

A misspelled first or last name on your TransUnion credit report usually means a data‑entry typo; the rest of the file will match your known accounts, and no new inquiries or unfamiliar creditors appear. Verify the spelling against your driver's license, Social Security card, or past‑month statements; if everything else lines up, treat it as a simple correction and move on to the 'gather 5 documents' step.

If the name change comes with unknown accounts, recent hard inquiries, or a sudden dip in your score, it could signal identity theft. Compare the erroneous name to the personal information on file for every active loan or credit card; mismatched addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses are red flags. In that case, start a fraud alert, request a free identity‑theft report, and follow the dispute process before collecting supporting documents. For more on protecting yourself, see the FTC's guide to identity theft.

TransUnion will verify a name correction with any five of the following accepted documents.

• Current government‑issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Social Security card showing the correct name
• Marriage certificate or divorce decree that documents the name change
• Court order or certified name‑change certificate issued by a judge
• Recent utility bill, bank statement, or other official document displaying the corrected name and your address

Dispute your name online with TransUnion in just a few clicks.

1. Go to TransUnion's online dispute portal and sign in or create a MyTransUnion account.
2. Click Dispute → Personal Information on the dashboard.
3. Choose Name from the list of items, then pick the reason that matches your case (typo, identity theft, legal change).
4. Attach one of the five documents listed in the 'Gather 5 documents' section - PDF of a driver's license, passport, marriage certificate, court order, or utility bill works.
5. Write a concise note: 'My legal name is Jane A. Smith; the credit report shows Jane Smith. Please correct.'
6. Submit the dispute and record the reference number shown on the confirmation screen.
7. Check your MyTransUnion inbox or email for the investigation outcome, typically within 30‑45 days. If the result is unsatisfactory, proceed to the 'Mail a certified dispute letter' section.

Send a certified‑mail dispute letter to TransUnion when the online portal won't accept your correction.

• Write a brief, factual letter that states the name discrepancy, cites the supporting documents, and asks for the specific change.
• Include a copy of each accepted document (government ID, marriage certificate, court order, etc.) that you gathered in the previous 'gather 5 documents' step.
• Use the TransUnion dispute mailing address: TransUnion Credit Reporting Agency, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016.
• Mail the packet via Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested; keep the receipt and receipt copy for your records.
• Track the delivery, and note the receipt date - TransUnion must investigate within 30‑45 days of receipt.
• If you receive a denial, the response will list the reason and any additional info needed; you can then move to the template in the next section.

With the certified letter sent, you're ready to use the short dispute‑letter template to ensure every required detail is covered.

Here's a proven short dispute letter you can copy and paste:

[Your Name]

[Street Address]

[City, State ZIP]

[Phone]

[Email]

[Date]

TransUnion

P.O. Box 2000

Chester, PA 19016

Re: Name discrepancy on my credit report -  [TransUnion File #]

I am writing to dispute an incorrect name listed on my credit report. My correct legal name is [First Last]; the report shows [Incorrect Name]. Enclosed are the five documents TransUnion accepts for name fixes (section 3) that prove my correct name -  e.g., driver's license, Social Security card, marriage certificate, court order, and utility bill. Please correct the name discrepancy, update all related accounts, and send me a written confirmation within the 30‑day dispute window required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Attach the completed template to a certified‑mail envelope, keep the receipt, and reference the online dispute you opened through the TransUnion dispute portal. If the correction does not appear, move on to the next step - asking creditors to correct their reports at the source (section 7).

Contact each creditor and ask them to update the name on the file they report to TransUnion.

• Call the creditor's dispute line, state the exact name discrepancy, and specify the spelling you need on the TransUnion feed.
• Mail a copy of the five TransUnion‑accepted documents (photo ID, marriage certificate, court order, etc.) to the creditor's compliance department via certified mail.
• Request written confirmation that the creditor has corrected the record and will resend the updated file to TransUnion within 30 days.
• Follow up with a screenshot of the corrected entry on your online account or a formal 'name correction' letter if the creditor resists.
• Log every call, mail date, representative name, and reference number; you'll need this record if you must escalate to the CFPB in the next section.

A court‑issued name change order or a certified marriage certificate is the official proof TransUnion requires to fix a legal name discrepancy on your credit report. Submit a clear copy of the court decree or marriage license (preferably a certified copy) along with a government‑issued ID that shows the new name, either through the online dispute portal or via a certified‑mail dispute letter that references the earlier 'gather 5 documents' step.

Once TransUnion confirms the update - typically within 30‑45 days - you'll see the corrected name on your credit report; the next section explains how to notify each creditor so their records match the bureau's and prevent future mismatches.

Accents, transliteration, and multiple surnames require extra documentation but follow the same dispute process.

These special cases occur when the credit report strips diacritics, converts non‑Latin scripts, or records more than one family name. TransUnion will match the name you provide only if it sees an official source that proves the exact spelling or order you use. Include the supporting record in the dispute description and attach a clear copy when you file online or mail your certified letter.

• Accent example: Your birth certificate lists José García, but the report shows Jose Garcia. Submit a government‑issued ID (driver's license or passport) that displays the accent, or a notarized affidavit confirming the correct spelling.
• Transliteration example: Your passport shows Иван Иванов (Ivan Ivanov) in Cyrillic. Attach the passport's English‑language transliteration page and a certified translation of the Cyrillic page.
• Multiple surnames example: You signed as Maria Lopez‑Smith after marriage. Include the marriage certificate and any recent credit‑card statement that shows the hyphenated name.

When you start the dispute (see 'dispute your name online step by step'), select 'name discrepancy' and note the specific issue (missing accent, transliteration, or additional surname). Upload the documents listed above; TransUnion typically confirms the correction within 30 days. For the full list of acceptable documents, consult the TransUnion acceptable proof guide.

Co‑signing does not cause a hard inquiry; TransUnion SmartMove runs a soft inquiry on the co‑signer's credit, just like it does for the primary applicant. The check appears on the credit report but does not affect the score.

If the landlord orders a separate full credit report outside of SmartMove, that could generate a hard inquiry, but the standard SmartMove screening stays soft. In most cases the soft pull remains on the report for 2 years and has no lasting impact on the credit score. For reference, see the SmartMove FAQ on inquiry types.

Confirm the fix across all three bureaus and monitor weekly by pulling fresh credit reports from each bureau and setting up regular alerts.

Request a new report from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian within 7‑10 days after the 30‑day dispute window closes. In the 'personal information' section, verify that the spelling, middle initial, suffix, and any accents match exactly what you submitted.

Enroll in a weekly credit‑monitoring service and add a calendar reminder to review each report. If any bureau shows the old name, launch a new dispute immediately; consistent monitoring catches re‑occurrences before they affect your score. free annual credit report