Updated for 2026. Check your reports annually to stay informed. Many companies profit from collecting and selling your personal data. It’s essential to understand what these companies are sharing with potential lenders, landlords, and employers about you. Under the FCRA and/or FACT Act, numerous consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) are legally obligated to provide a free copy of your report every 12 months and offer a method to dispute any inaccuracies.
While some have online request options, others make it deliberately difficult by eliminating this convenience; don’t hesitate to reach out via phone if necessary. You may not want to check every agency, but if you’ve faced any rejection or negative impact in these areas, issues may be present in one of these databases. Remember, you might not have a file with every agency. Requesting your consumer reports does not affect your credit score.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been actively maintaining a comprehensive list of CRAs (see PDF version), and I’m streamlining this list to include direct links to major categories along with key consumer reporting agencies.
Credit-Related
Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These three significant credit bureaus monitor your credit accounts, payment histories, and related details like bankruptcies and liens. You can now access free online credit reports weekly (this frequency was made permanent after initially being increased during the COVID pandemic).
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- 877-322-8228
(Note: Following a class action settlement, you can also request up to six additional free copies of your Equifax credit report directly from myEquifax through December 2026.)
You can now freeze your credit reports for free, but you need to contact each bureau individually. For further information, refer to the Big List of Ways To Protect Your Identity: Free Credit Monitoring, Free Credit Locks, and Free Credit Freezes.
LexisNexis. A large personal information database that covers public records, real estate transactions, liens, judgments, bankruptcy records, professional license information, and historical addresses. Free copies can be requested by mailing a form.
- LexisNexis.com request page
- 866-897-8126
Innovis. Another major CRA that provides credit reports for various sectors, including payday lenders, utilities, landlords, employment screening, and insurance companies.
- Innovis request page
- 866-712-0021
Banking-Related
ChexSystems. A consumer information database used by 80-90% of banks to assess the risk of opening new accounts, similar to a credit bureau. Records of check fraud, account overdrafts, and other banking activities are noted here. You can request a free copy once every 12 months, and you can now access your report online.
- ChexSystems request page
- 800-428-9623
Early Warning Services (EWS). This organization provides deposit account information to lenders. Owners include major banks like Bank of America, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo.
- ChexSystems request page
- 800-745-1560
Subprime-Related (Payday Lending)
Microbilt and its subsidiary Payment Reporting Builds Credit (PRBC). A company that supplies credit data for around 110 million underserved consumers in the U.S. Free copies are available once every 12 months.
- Microbilt.com request form
- 888-222-7621
Rental History
Realpage (LeasingDesk) Consumer Report. Provides tenant screening through the LeasingDesk product, which boasts the largest rental payment history database in the industry.
- RealPage.com report request page
- 866-934-1124
CoreLogic SafeRent. Offers tenant and employment screening data, including landlord-tenant information and criminal public records. One free report is available every 12 months.
- CoreLogic.com report request form
- 888-333-2413
Experian RentBureau Rental History Report. Receives updated rental payment history data every 24 hours from various sources, making it readily available to the multifamily industry.
- Experian.com/RentBureau report request page (scroll down for PDF form)
- 877-704-4519
TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions. SmartMove provides comprehensive tenant credit, eviction, and background checks.
- MySmartMove.com FAQ page
- To obtain your report or dispute any inaccuracies, reach customer service at 866-775-0961.
Auto and Property Insurance
C.L.U.E. Personal Property Report. Operated by LexisNexis, CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, which collects data to assist in calculating insurance premiums. This report provides a seven-year history of losses linked to your personal property, including loss date, type, and amount paid, alongside policy and claim details.
- LexisNexis.com CLUE report request page
- 866-312-8076
C.L.U.E. Auto Report. This report encompasses a seven-year history of automobile insurance claims associated with an individual, detailing similar information as above.
- LexisNexis.com CLUE report request page
- 866-312-8076
A-PLUS Loss History Reports, subsidiary of Verisk. Provides detailed records of auto and property loss claims.
- Verisk.com report request page
- 800-627-3487
Utilities
National Consumer Telecom and Utilities Exchange. NCTUE keeps a record of individuals who do not pay their utility, phone, or cable bills. You can request one free report each year.
- NCTUE.com report request page
- 866-349-5185
Retail
The Retail Equation. Monitors returns and exchanges at retail stores to prevent abuse.
- TheRetailEquation.com request page
- 800-652-2331 or returnactivityreport@theretailequation.com
Medical History
MIB (formerly Medical Information Bureau). Maintained by 470 insurance firms to detect and prevent fraud, they keep records relevant to underwriting, such as medical conditions or hazardous activities. Typically, if you haven’t applied for life, health, or disability insurance in the past seven years, you likely don’t have a record.
- MIB.com report request page
- 866-692-6901
Milliman IntelliScript. Tracks your prescription medication history. Milliman IntelliScript collects this information only if you consented to the release of your medical records to an insurance company, which also requested your report.
- RXHistories.com report request page (see bottom)
- 877-211-4816
Employment History / Background Checks
Numerous companies provide background screening services for employers. Most will not have information about you unless you authorized a background check during the job application process. Certain companies only provide results if there was an adverse action. Despite this, you can obtain a free copy every 12 months. There are many more companies mentioned in the full list linked above.
It’s vital to request your background check if you apply for a job and one is conducted, allowing you to promptly dispute any incorrect or negative details from those reports.
The Work Number (part of Equifax). They maintain historical income records as well.
- TheWorkNumber.com report request page
- 866-604-6570
Backgroundchecks.com
- Backgroundchecks.com report request page
- 866-265-6602
Checkr
- Checkr candidate portal (access your report here).
- 844-824-3257
Accurate
- Accurate.com report request info
- 800-216-8024
ADP Screening and Selection Services
- ADPselect.com (click on Applicant Resources)
- 888-606-7868 (Option 2)
