History of TransUnion in Timeline

TransUnion is one of the three largest American credit reporting agencies, alongside Experian and Equifax. Based in Chicago, it collects and aggregates credit information on over one billion consumers across more than thirty countries, including detailed profiles on nearly every credit-active consumer in the United States – over 200 million files. TransUnion serves over 65,000 businesses and generated US$1.3 billion in revenue in 2014. It plays a significant role in the financial industry by providing credit data and related services.

1968: TransUnion Formed

In 1968, TransUnion was originally formed as a holding company for Union Tank Car Company, connecting it to Standard Oil.

1981: Acquisition by The Marmon Group

In 1981, The Marmon Group, a Chicago-based holding company, acquired TransUnion for approximately $688 million.

2003: Lawsuit Awarded to Judy Thomas

In 2003, Judy Thomas of Klamath Falls, Oregon, was awarded $5.3 million in a successful lawsuit against TransUnion for taking six years to remove incorrect information from her credit report.

2006: Sloan Lawsuit Settlement

In 2006, TransUnion and Experian settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in a lawsuit filed by a fraud victim named Sloan, who spent two years trying to correct erroneous credit information resulting from identity theft.

2010: Acquisition by Goldman Sachs and Advent International

In 2010, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Advent International acquired TransUnion from Madison Dearborn Partners.

September 2013: Acquisition of eScan Data Systems

In September 2013, TransUnion acquired eScan Data Systems of Austin, Texas, to provide post-service eligibility determination support to hospitals and healthcare systems. The technology was integrated into TransUnion's ClearIQ platform.

October 2013: CreditVision Launch

In October 2013, TransUnion launched CreditVision, an updated credit score offering that includes trended data to help predict consumer repayment and debt behavior.

November 2013: Acquisition of TLO LLC

In November 2013, TransUnion acquired TLO LLC, a company that leverages data in support of its investigative and risk management tools, and their TLOxp technology.

2014: Acquisition of TLO

In 2014, TransUnion acquired Hank Asher's data company TLO.

2014: 2014 Revenue

In 2014, TransUnion's revenue was US$1.3 billion, making it the smallest of the "Big Three" credit agencies.

2014: Launch of ResidentCredit

In 2014, after an analysis showing the positive impact of reporting rental payments on credit scores, TransUnion initiated ResidentCredit, a service for property owners to report tenant data monthly.

March 2015: Settlement with New York Attorney-General

In March 2015, TransUnion, along with Experian and Equifax, settled with the New York Attorney-General, agreeing to help consumers with errors on credit reports. They are now required to use trained employees to resolve disputes.

June 25, 2015: TransUnion Becomes Publicly Traded

On June 25, 2015, TransUnion became a publicly traded company for the first time, trading under the symbol TRU.

2015: Acquisition of Trustev

In 2015, TransUnion acquired Trustev, a digital verification company specializing in online fraud, for $21 million, minus debts.

January 2017: CFPB Fine and Restitution Order

In January 2017, TransUnion was fined $5.5 million and ordered to pay $17.6 million in restitution by the CFPB for deceiving consumers about the cost and usefulness of credit scores and luring them into costly recurring payments.

June 2017: Jury Verdict Against TransUnion

In June 2017, a California jury ruled against TransUnion, awarding $60 million in damages to consumers who were falsely reported on a government list of terrorists and other security threats, marking the largest FCRA verdict in history.

October 2017: Website Redirecting to Malware

In October 2017, TransUnion's Central American division's website was reported to redirect visitors to websites that attempted drive-by downloads of malware disguised as Adobe Flash updates, due to hijacking of third-party analytics JavaScript.

2017: Acquisition of FactorTrust

In 2017, TransUnion acquired FactorTrust, a consumer reporting agency specializing in alternative credit data.

April 2018: Intention to Buy CallCredit Information Group

In April 2018, TransUnion announced its intention to buy UK-based CallCredit Information Group for $1.4 billion, subject to regulatory approval.

2018: Most Complaints Filed with CFPB

In 2018, credit bureaus had the most complaints of all companies filed with the CFPB, with 34% of all complaints directed at TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian that year.

September 2021: Announcement of Neustar Acquisition

In September 2021, TransUnion initially announced the acquisition of Neustar for $3.1 billion.

October 2021: Announcement of Sontiq Acquisition

In October 2021, TransUnion initially announced the acquisition of Sontiq, including IdentityForce, for $638 million.

December 2021: Completion of Neustar and Sontiq Acquisitions

In December 2021, TransUnion completed the acquisitions of Neustar and Sontiq, including IdentityForce.

March 2022: Data Breach

On 17 March 2022, TransUnion South Africa disclosed that hackers breached one of their servers and allegedly stole data of 54 million customers, demanding a ransom to not release it, the group N4ughtysecTU claims responsibility.

April 2022: CFPB Statement on TransUnion

In April 2022, the CFPB stated that TransUnion is "incapable of operating its businesses lawfully".

February 2023: Rebranding of B2B Products

In February 2023, TransUnion announced it was rebranding its existing B2B products into seven business lines: TruAudience, TruValidate, TruContact, TruVision, TruIQ, TruEmpower, and TruLookup.

January 2025: Buying Majority Stake in Mexican Arm

In January 2025, TransUnion has been observed in buying a majority stake in its Mexican arm in a deal worth around $560 million. TransUnion's stake in Trans Union de Mexico is said to be shot up around 94%, from a current 26%.