The three nationwide credit reporting agencies
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each keep a credit file on most U.S. adults. You can get your reports from all three free at AnnualCreditReport.com, the site the three bureaus run under federal law.
Specialty consumer reporting agencies collect narrower information, and many sell it for one kind of decision: opening a bank account, renting an apartment, writing a check, buying insurance or getting a job. They are consumer reporting agencies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, so the same accuracy and dispute rules apply. The CFPB keeps its own list of consumer reporting companies.
Credit bureaus (4)
| Company | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Equifax | Credit report lawsuits |
| Experian | Credit report lawsuits |
| Innovis | Credit bureau |
| TransUnion | Credit report lawsuits |
Specialty consumer reporting agencies (34)
| Company | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Arity | Driving behavior reports |
| Blend Insights | Income, employment & asset verification |
| CCC Verify | Employment & income verification |
| Central Credit | Casino credit reports |
| Certegy | Check and ACH verification |
| ChexSystems | Bank account screening |
| Clarity Services | Alternative lending reports |
| Connected Analytic Services (CAS) | Connected car driving reports |
| CoreLogic Credco | Mortgage credit reports |
| CrossCheck | Check & ACH screening |
| DataX | Alternative lending reports |
| Drivers History | Traffic violation reports |
| Early Warning Services | Bank account screening |
| EmpInfo | Employment & income verification |
| Experian Verify | Employment & income verification |
| FactorTrust | Subprime lending reports |
| Global Payments Check Services | Check verification |
| Insurance Information Exchange (iiX) | Motor vehicle record reports |
| LexisNexis C.L.U.E. | Auto & home insurance claims reports |
| LexisNexis Risk Solutions | Insurance & identity reports |
| MIB | Life & health insurance underwriting reports |
| MicroBilt | Alternative lending reports |
| Milliman IntelliScript | Prescription history reports |
| NCC (National Cred-A-Chek) | Casino credit reports |
| NCTUE | Telecom and utility reporting |
| Pinwheel | Payroll-linked income verification |
| SageStream | Supplementary credit reporting |
| TeleCheck | Check verification |
| Teletrack | Subprime lending reports |
| The Retail Equation | Retail return screening |
| The Work Number | Employment & income verification |
| Truework | Employment & income verification |
| Verisk A-PLUS | Auto & home insurance claims reports |
| VIP Preferred | Casino payment screening |
Background check companies (30)
| Company | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Accurate Background | Employment background checks |
| ADP Screening & Selection Services | Employment background checks |
| American DataBank | Student & clinical placement checks |
| AssureHire | Employment background checks |
| Asurint | Employment & tenant screening |
| BackgroundChecks.com | Small-business employment background checks |
| Certiphi Screening | Healthcare background checks |
| Certn | Employment & tenant screening |
| Checkr | Uber, Lyft, DoorDash background checks |
| Cisive | Employment background checks |
| DISA Global Solutions | Background checks & drug testing |
| Fama Technologies | Social media background screening |
| Ferretly | Social media background screening |
| First Advantage | Employment background checks |
| GoodHire | Employment background checks |
| HireRight | Employment background checks |
| InCheck | Employment background checks |
| Inflection Risk Solutions | Airbnb & marketplace background checks |
| InfoMart | Employment background checks |
| IntelliCorp | Employment, volunteer & tenant checks |
| OPENonline | Employment background checks |
| Pre-employ.com | Employment background checks |
| PreCheck | Healthcare background checks |
| Raptor Technologies | School visitor screening |
| SambaSafety | Driving record checks & monitoring |
| SentryLink | Employment & tenant background checks |
| Sterling | Employment background checks |
| Truescreen | Employment background checks |
| Turn | Gig & hourly worker background checks |
| Universal Background Screening | Employment background checks |
Tenant screening companies (25)
| Company | What it reports |
|---|---|
| AmRent | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Apartments.com | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| AppFolio | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Avail | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Buildium | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| CIC (Contemporary Information Corp.) | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Entrata ResidentVerify | Apartment application screening |
| Experian RentBureau | Rental payment history reports |
| First Advantage Resident Solutions | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| MyRental | Landlord tenant screening |
| National Credit Reporting | Tenant & employment screening |
| On-Site | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| RealPage | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Rentec Direct | Landlord software tenant screening |
| RentGrow | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| RentPrep | Landlord tenant screening |
| RentRedi | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| RentSpree | Rental application screening |
| SafeRent | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| Screening Reports, Inc. | Tenant screening |
| Tenant Screening Center (TSC) | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| TenantSafe | Resident screening |
| TransUnion Rental Screening | Tenant screening lawsuits |
| TurboTenant | Landlord software tenant screening |
| Zillow Rental Manager | Rental application screening |
How to get your file from any of these agencies
- Request it. Each guide above links to the company's own request page. Nationwide specialty agencies must give you one free file a year on request.
- Ask after a denial. If a landlord, employer, bank or insurer turned you down because of a report, the notice must name the agency. You can get a free copy within 60 days.
- Dispute errors in writing. The agency generally must reinvestigate within 30 days (15 U.S.C. § 1681i). Our dispute letter builder works for any of them.
Common questions
What are the three credit reporting agencies?
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. Lenders, landlords, employers and insurers buy credit reports from them.
Are there other credit reporting agencies?
Yes. Hundreds of specialty consumer reporting agencies collect information about bank accounts, check writing, payday loans, rental history, insurance claims, employment and criminal records. The FCRA covers them too.
Can I get a free report from a specialty agency?
Nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies must give you a free file disclosure once every 12 months on request (15 U.S.C. § 1681j(a)). Any consumer reporting agency must give you a free copy if you were denied something because of its report and you ask within 60 days (§ 1681j(b)).
Can I sue a credit reporting agency?
Yes, if it reported inaccurate information without reasonable procedures (§ 1681e(b)), failed to reasonably reinvestigate your dispute (§ 1681i), or reported obsolete information (§ 1681c), and that caused you harm. Claims generally must be filed within two years of discovery and five years of the violation (§ 1681p).