16 Jul How do I get access to my credit report online?

Q. How do I get access to my credit report online? When I try to access, I’m denied access because I think I answered the security questions wrong.
— Borrower

A. You’re not alone in this frustration, but you may now need to go the old fashioned way.

The security questions you’re asked are often based on information in your credit reports. It might ask for an address where you had a mortgage, a range of monthly cost for a car loan, current credit card accounts or addresses where you might have lived.

There are many others, too.

You should be concerned about whether someone else’s accounts are listed on your credit report. That’s the worst case scenario, and that could be one reason why you got the answers wrong. Make sure to dispute anything that’s incorrect.

But you can still get access to your reports.

“If you are unable to answer the security questions then the credit bureau will ask you to provide proof documentation,” said Bill Connington of Connington Wealth Management in Fairfield. “Most will allow you to upload documents or submit them by mail to protect you the consumer.”

You can contact the three credit bureaus by phone:
Experian: (888) 397-3742
Equifax: (800) 349-9960
TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

You can also contact AnnualCreditReport.com – the organization that allows you to access all three credit reports – by mail at Central Source LLC, P.O. Box 105283, Atlanta, GA 30348-5283.

When you do get your reports, make sure there are no accounts that don’t belong to you.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on July 16, 2019.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.