How to Change Your Address on Your Credit Report

A credit report serves as a comprehensive record of your financial behaviors and borrowing history. It summarizes your credit accounts, payment history, and public records, offering a snapshot of your financial responsibility. Lenders, landlords, and some employers use this information to assess your creditworthiness. Maintaining an accurate address on your credit report helps protect against identity theft and ensures you receive important financial communications without interruption.

Information Needed for Address Updates

Before initiating any address changes, gather all necessary personal and financial information. You will need your full legal name, including any previous names used on credit documents, your date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN). Providing all previous addresses, especially the one currently listed on your credit report, and your new address is essential for linking old and new records. Current and previous phone numbers should also be available for verification.

Account numbers for any financial products, such as credit cards or loans, can also be helpful for identity verification when contacting financial institutions. Be prepared to provide proof of your new address, which may include documents like a utility bill, a driver’s license with the updated address, a bank statement, or a lease agreement.

Updating Your Address with Credit Bureaus

You can update your address with the three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Many creditors automatically report updated address information to the credit bureaus when you notify them, which can then reflect on your credit report within 30 to 45 days.

For online submissions, visit each bureau’s website and look for sections related to “update personal information” or “dispute information.” For instance, Experian allows online disputes and updates through its Dispute Center, while Equifax offers an online dispute portal.

To mail your request, send a written letter along with copies (not originals) of supporting documents. Mail to Experian at P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013; Equifax at P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256; and TransUnion at P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022-2000.

Phone support is also available for address changes. Experian can be reached at 888-397-3742, Equifax at 866-349-5191, and TransUnion at 800-916-8800.

Notifying Other Financial Institutions

Beyond the credit bureaus, directly inform all other financial institutions about your address change. Updating your address with credit bureaus does not automatically update records with all your individual accounts. Key institutions to contact include banks for checking and savings accounts, credit card companies, loan providers such as mortgage, auto, or student loan servicers, and any investment firms you use.

You can often update your address through online banking portals or mobile applications by accessing your profile or settings. Calling customer service is another common method. Some institutions also allow in-person updates by visiting a local branch or by mailing a written request.

Verifying the Address Change

After updating your address with credit bureaus and financial institutions, confirm that the changes have been successfully processed. Obtain copies of your credit reports from each of the three major bureaus after 30 to 60 days. You can access free copies annually from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Review your credit reports to check for the updated address. Also, regularly check your bank statements, credit card bills, and online account portals to ensure they reflect your new address. If your address has not updated or if there is an error, contact the specific credit bureau or institution again to resolve the issue, initiating a dispute if necessary.