As people rely more and more on credit cards and loans to make their purchases (both large and small), credit scores have become almost as important as the amount of your annual income. Most people are aware that their credit report and credit score are used frequently by banks and businesses, but they have no idea how to find this information themselves. Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus (the others are Equifax and TransUnion), has several different options for obtaining your credit report information.

How to Contact Experian

If you are a consumer and you're interested in getting your credit report or credit score, you can visit Experian on the Web at www.experian.com. Experian offers several different options on their website for obtaining your credit report--but be warned, all of these involve paying some kind of fee. You may not know this, but you are actually entitled to one free credit report each year from Experian, but this report can only be obtained by visiting www.annnualcreditreport.com.

There are, of course, advantages to contacting Experian directly. For instance, if you have been denied a loan or credit application based on information provided by Experian, you can still contact them directly and get a free copy of the report that led to your denial of credit. They are required by federal law to provide you with a free report in these circumstances.

If you don't mind paying, Experian offers some nice services that go along with your credit report. Two popular services are their Credit Manager service and their "3 Bureau Credit Report" that allows you to see your credit information from all three major credit bureaus. If you'd like to contact Experian by telephone, their toll-free number is 888-397-3742.