Credit & Borrowing
Who keeps a file on me besides the three credit bureaus?
Plenty of companies. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion aren't the only ones that collect information on you and sell reports about it. Specialty consumer reporting companies cover areas like employment screening, tenant screening, checking and bank account screening, insurance, medical information, telecom and utilities, and gambling. Every one of them has to give you a copy of what's in your file if you ask, and you have the right to dispute anything that's wrong.
Who uses these reports?
Lenders, employers (for pre-employment screening), landlords, banks and stores that take personal checks, insurance companies, phone and utility companies, and casinos that extend credit or take checks, among others.
When should I check them?
Before you apply for a job, an insurance policy or a lease, check the relevant reports for errors. If a bank turns you down for a checking or savings account, it has to give you an adverse action notice naming the screening company it used.
How do I find the right company?
The CFPB publishes a list of consumer reporting companies, grouped by type, so you can see which ones might have a file on you and contact them.
What if something's wrong?
Dispute it with the company that made the report and with the company that supplied the information. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, they have to investigate your dispute reasonably and free of charge.
- CFPB — List of consumer reporting companies
Money Mechanics explains how things work in plain language. It is not personalized financial advice.
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