In a Nutshell
If you want your credit reports to show your new last name, address or employer, you’ll need to get in touch with your creditors and ask them to change their records. Your addresses, names and jobs aren't factored into your credit scores, but it’s always a good idea keep your information up-to-date.
While a common situation, it can still often feel overwhelming to update your personal information in so many different places when your address, employer or last name changes.
In our digital information age, it can be difficult to know where you can expect your information to update automatically. The good news when it comes to your credit reports is that, for most of your personal information, you only need to reach out to your creditors — not the credit bureaus. There is an exception when it comes to first and middle names, but we’ll get more into that below.
Do you need to contact the credit bureaus to update your personal information?
In most cases you don’t need to contact the credit bureaus to update the personal information on your credit reports. If you’re changing your address, employer or last name, you only need to get in touch with your creditors and ask them to update your records on their end.
When your creditors send their monthly updates to the credit bureaus, they’ll include your new information and your credit reports should update. It’s hard to say exactly how long it will take to see the updated information on your credit reports. Generally, it should happen sometime after the end of the billing cycle once the update has been received, usually between a month and 45 days, depending on the bureau and where your monthly update falls on the calendar.
If you do not see any changes after that time, you can always contact the credit bureaus directly to correct any errors, but keep in mind that you’ll likely need to submit copies of personal documentation showing that new information for any changes to occur.
Changing your first and middle name on your credit reports
As mentioned above, if you’re only changing your last name, then you shouldn’t have to reach out to each credit bureau to see that information reflected on your reports. However, if you’re changing your first or middle names, you should reach out to the bureaus directly so that they know to connect your previous credit history to the history under your new name. Keep in mind that for a change to occur, you must have legally changed your name and be able to provide the legal documents showing the change.
Will out of date
It’s a good idea to try and keep these things updated, but not doing so also won’t necessarily impact your credit health. If you’ve changed your last name, you may be concerned about maintaining the credit history tied to your previous name, but keep in mind that your credit is also tied to your Social Security number (which should stay the same). But even if your Social Security number is the same, you should still reach out to the bureaus for first and middle name changes. Similarly, changes to your latest address or employer information shouldn’t negatively impact your active credit profile.
In fact, after your new data is added to your reports, your old data will stick around and act as additional identifying information. If you apply for a new credit card or job, this helps potential creditors or employers match your application to your credit reports. But keep in mind that anyone looking at your credit report isn’t expecting to see a complete history of the places you’ve lived and worked.
Next steps
Your addresses, names and jobs aren’t factored into your scores (but these components are), so don’t fret if this information isn’t immediately updated on your credit reports.
Still, like the rest of your reports, it’s better to be prudent and keep your information up-to-date. Ask your creditors to make the changes as soon as you can.
After you’ve contacted your creditors, make sure to monitor your credit information and regularly check your credit reports on Credit Karma to keep an eye out for fraudulent activity.
If you don’t recognize a name or address on your report, it’s possible someone opened an account with your information, and you may need to file a dispute to address that.