How to Report a Name Change to the Credit Bureaus

Our experts answer readers’ investing questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess investing products). Paid non-client promotion: In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners. Our opinions are always our own.Congratulations on your gender-affirming legal name change! After navigating confusing legal paperwork and paying court fees, there’s still more work to be done after receiving your name change decree signed by a judge at your local courthouse. One of the many steps in your legal transition is to report your legal name change to all three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — so it’ll appear on your credit report.It seems like a tedious process, but it’s all worth it in the end. “By updating their names with the three major credit bureaus, trans and nonbinary folx will be able to proactively prevent any potential disruptions to their credit history, which is particularly important when applying for a future mortgage or auto loan,” says Ryan Klippel, head of social impact and LGBTQ+ CFP® professional at Optas Capital. Here’s a step-by-step guide to updating your credit report with your legal name.Before you update your name with the credit bureaus, you first need to update your name on your driver’s license, Social Security card, and utility bills first since credit bureaus ask for copies of those documents to verify your name change request.Its also recommended that you change your name with each of your lenders before updating your name with the credit bureaus. Unfortunately, this is a time-consuming process that everyone undergoing a legal name change — even cisgender people getting married or divorced — has to go through.The main difference is that transgender and non-binary people may experience higher emotional distress from fear of being outed, misgendered, or deadnamed while dealing with each financial institution. LGBTQ+ financial planner Klippel reminds folx to take deep breaths throughout the process, adding, “You are contributing to real change by paving the way for a hopefully more streamlined process in the future for trans and non-binary folx.”The process for each of the three credit bureaus is slightly different, but they all require copies of your new ID and your legal name change decree. The Equifax and Experian processes are relatively straightforward, but changing your name with TransUnion requires more time and effort.According to the Equifax website, you can update your legal name through the myEquifax Dispute Center. The dispute center also handles any credit report disputes you may have.First, create an account on myEquifax using your deadname or log into an existing account. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be asked to upload the following documents:If you prefer to speak to a representative instead of changing your legal name online, you can call 1-866-349-5191 during these hours:You’ll need to fax or mail the same documents listed above to finish reporting your legal name change to Equifax.Experian has a specific client portal where you can upload the following required documents:Experian’s portal will have space to describe your claim. Here’s what you need to write in that space:”My legal name is now ______; please see attached documents.”If you prefer to report your legal name change by regular mail, you can send copies of the same documents in the mail with a typed letter explaining that you’d like to change your legal name on your credit report. Send the letter and your documents to:Experian Dispute RequestsP.O. Box 4500Allen, TX 75013Unlike the other two credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion requires you to change your legal name with every individual financial institution listed on their credit report first.After reporting your legal name change to each credit card company, lender, or bank, you need to mail a letter to TransUnion, requesting the name change. In your letter, you must include the following:You’ll also need to include a copy of your legal name change decree. Mail both items to:TransUnion Consumer SolutionsP.O. Box 2000Chester, PA 19016-2000You may also call TransUnion at 1-833-395-6938 if you have additional questions about changing your legal name.Each state has its own process and requirements for filing your legal name change. The National Center for Transgender Equality has a page that outlines processes for each state.Some states, like California, will waive court fees for low-income folx who receive food stamps or Medicaid/Medicare. Some state colleges with law programs, like UC Berkeley, have legal clinics that help folx fill out their name change paperwork free of charge. Google “transgender legal name change clinic workshop + (insert your city and state here)” to find legal clinics in your state.To update your Social Security card, you’ll need to send original or certified copies of the following documents to your local Social Security office:Because you’re required to send original or certified copies, it’s recommended that you use a form of mail that includes a tracking number to prevent your items from getting lost. After your application has been processed, the Social Security office will mail your documents back within a few days.After your legal name change is complete and you have your new Social Security card on hand, you can move forward with changing your the following forms of identification:Next, update your utility bills and your credit report, as listed above.Keep copies of documents you mail out and a record of when you mailed them. You can also invest a few dollars in certified mail at the post office, which gives your mail a tracking number you can follow. Once the tracking number states that the mail has arrived, follow up with a phone call to make sure your documents were received.Take notes when you’re calling financial institutions to follow up about your name change process. Write down the date, what time the call started, the name of the customer service representative, and what time the call ended. Take detailed notes about the next steps in the process, or when they estimate your name change will be completed.Spread the tasks out over the span of a few weeks instead of tackling them all at once. Klippel says, “As this process can be overwhelming, once you have all the necessary documentation, you can set bite-sized goals over a three-day period — one credit bureau per day,” he says.No, your name is the only thing that will change on your credit report.No, gender is not listed on your credit report.No, changing your name does not affect your credit score.

Source