What Are TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian?

The three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian - matter because they compile the credit report that lenders, landlords, and employers examine before deciding whether to grant you a loan, a lease, or a job. Each bureau pulls data from a different set of creditors, so an error on one report can lower a score, raise an interest rate, or trigger a denial, which is why you'll see in the next section how they source your credit information.

Your credit report shapes loan terms, insurance premiums, and utility deposits, so monitoring all three lets you catch mismatches, correct mistakes, and protect against identity theft - a theme we'll expand on when we discuss freezing your credit at each bureau.

• Banks and credit unions send loan and account activity to the three major credit bureaus, providing the foundational record of your borrowing behavior.
• Credit card issuers and other revolving‑credit providers report balances, payment history and credit limits, shaping the bulk of your revolving‑credit data.
• Auto, mortgage and student‑loan servicers furnish installment‑loan details, including payment dates, amounts and defaults.
• Courts and tax authorities file bankruptcies, tax liens and judgments as public records that appear on every report.
• Collection agencies, utility companies and telecom firms add unpaid‑bill information and payment histories, completing the picture of non‑lending obligations.

Each of the three major credit bureaus compiles its own file, so the data you see on TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian can differ even for the same borrower.

• Who sends the data - Lenders, landlords, and collection agencies choose which bureau(s) to report to; some report to all three, others to only one or two.
• Timing of updates - Each bureau receives information on its own schedule; a payment posted on Monday may appear on Experian on Tuesday, on TransUnion Thursday, and on Equifax the following week.
• Formatting of accounts - The bureaus use slightly different field names and codes; an 'open‑ended credit line' may be labeled 'revolving' on one report and 'installment' on another.
• Treatment of inquiries - Hard inquiries are logged for 24 months by all three, but some bureaus flag soft pulls differently or omit them from the public view.
• Public records and medical debt - Reporting thresholds vary; a tax lien might show up on Equifax immediately, while Experian waits for verification, and TransUnion may exclude it if the creditor does not supply a full file.
• Alternative data - Rental‑payment and utility‑payment programs often feed into only Experian or TransUnion, giving those reports extra positive tradelines not present on the third bureau.

Those reporting quirks explain why the scores you see from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian often don't match, a topic we explore next.

Your credit score can vary between TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian because each bureau receives a slightly different credit report and applies its own scoring algorithm, as explained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

• Some lenders submit information to only one or two bureaus, so balances and payment histories differ.
• Each bureau may use a different version of the FICO model or VantageScore, which weight factors such as utilization or recent inquiries differently.
• Updates are posted at different times; a payment that clears today might appear on one report tomorrow and on another two days later.
• Errors or omissions - mis‑typed account numbers or outdated status - often affect just a single bureau's file.
• Certain data types, like medical collections, receive distinct treatment in each bureau's scoring rules.

Lenders and landlords pull your credit report from the three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian - to judge how reliably you meet financial obligations. They examine the report's payment history, outstanding balances, public records, and recent inquiries; the accompanying credit score is simply a snapshot derived from that data.

Mortgage banks, auto financiers, and credit‑card issuers use the same report to set interest rates, determine loan limits, and decide whether to approve you. A clean record on all three bureaus can earn a lower rate, while a single 90‑day late payment flagged by Experian may raise your APR or trigger a denial.

Landlords request the same reports to screen rental applicants, focusing on rent‑payment trends, eviction filings, and severe delinquencies. Many lease agreements tie the security‑deposit amount to the risk indicated by the report, and a recent collection listed on TransUnion can lead a property manager to require a higher deposit or refuse the application. For a deeper look at landlord screening practices, see how landlords use credit reports.

The below content will be converted to HTML following it's exact instructions:

• Across TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, confirm that your name, address, birth date, and Social Security number are exact.
• Verify every credit account listed belongs to you and matches the creditor's records.
• Check that each account's status (open, closed, settled) and reported balance are correct.
• Ensure the payment history shows on‑time payments and contains no erroneous late marks.
• Review public records, collections, and bankruptcies for accuracy and proper dates.
• Count the hard inquiries and confirm they were you who authorized each.
• Look for duplicate entries or outdated information and make sure they are removed.

You correct errors on the three major credit bureaus by filing a focused dispute for each report.

1. Pull your free credit report from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian within the 30‑day annual window.
2. Highlight the inaccurate entry and note why it's wrong (wrong balance, mis‑spelled name, outdated account).
3. Collect supporting documents - bank statements, loan statements, or a settlement letter - that prove the correct information.
4. Submit a dispute online or by certified mail to the specific bureau; include your full name, address, Social Security number, a concise description of the error, and copies of the evidence.
5. Keep a copy of every submission and the mailing receipt; the bureaus have 30 days to investigate.
6. When you receive the investigation result, review the updated report. If the error remains, request a re‑investigation and attach any additional proof.
7. Repeat the process for the other two bureaus; each must receive its own dispute even if the error appears on all three reports.

After you file a dispute with TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian, the bureau opens a formal investigation and notifies the creditor or data furnisher that supplied the disputed entry. The investigation must be completed within 30 days (up to 45 days if you provide additional information), during which the bureau validates the item against its records.

When the investigation ends, the bureau updates your credit report and sends you a written notice describing the resolution. If the entry is found inaccurate, the bureau corrects or deletes it and forwards the corrected report to any party that accessed it in the previous six months. If the information cannot be verified, the entry is either removed or flagged as 'disputed.' You may then add a personal statement, re‑file the dispute, or pursue further remedies such as contacting a consumer‑protection agency.

Freeze your credit reports at TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian to block new account openings and stop fraud. Each bureau requires a separate, free freeze that you can activate online, by phone, or by mail, and you'll receive a PIN or password to lift the freeze later.

• Go to TransUnion credit freeze page, enter your personal details, create a PIN, and confirm the request.
• Visit Equifax credit freeze portal, provide the same information, set a password, and save the confirmation.
• Access Experian freeze service, submit your data, receive a PIN, and store it securely.
• Keep each PIN/password separate; you'll need the correct one to temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze.
• Verify the freeze status by checking each bureau's online dashboard or calling their dedicated freeze line.
• Remember that a freeze stops only new credit inquiries; existing accounts, subscriptions, and utility services remain unaffected.

If your identity is stolen, the three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian - activate a suite of fraud‑prevention tools on your credit report.

• Fraud alert: each bureau places a 90‑day alert that forces lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts. You can extend it to seven years for a known victim‑of‑identity‑theft case.
• Credit freeze (or lock): they block any new credit inquiries until you lift the freeze with a PIN or password, stopping thieves from opening accounts in your name.
• Identity theft report: you receive a free, personalized report that flags fraudulent activity and provides an 'Identity Theft Statement' you can share with creditors, police, and the FTC (identity theft resources).
• Dispute assistance: the bureaus investigate disputed fraudulent items, delete them if unverified, and send you a written confirmation of the outcome.
• Monitoring alerts: they notify you of any new inquiries, accounts, or changes to your report, giving early warning of further misuse.

These actions protect your credit file while you work with creditors and law‑enforcement to resolve the theft. After you've secured your report, the next section explains how bureaus generate revenue and why that matters for you.

The three major credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian - make money by selling your credit report data and related services to lenders, insurers, landlords, and employers, and by charging consumers for credit‑monitoring, score access, and dispute processing; they also earn fees when businesses purchase bundled risk‑assessment tools.

For example, each time a mortgage lender pulls your report the bureau receives a per‑inquiry fee, and an auto‑insurance company may buy a bulk package of reports to set premiums, creating recurring revenue. You might pay $15 a month for a credit‑monitoring subscription that alerts you to any changes, and that payment goes straight to the bureau.

Because profit depends on how often your data is accessed, increased inquiries can lower your score and raise loan costs, linking the bureaus' earnings directly to your financial outcomes. Federal Trade Commission on credit bureaus