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Tips
- Federal law entitles everyone to up to three free-- and reliable-- credit reports a year.
- The three major reporting agencies are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- For your first time, get reports from all three agencies at once.
- For subsequent reports, go to one of the three agencies every four months.
- Don't feel pressured to buy additional services on top of your free reports-- they are not required.
- Annual Credit Report.com is the only website authorized to get you free credit reports. Be wary of other scam sites.
- Options are available to request credit reports via phone and mail as well.
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Did you know that United States federal law requires every American to be able to get a free credit report from three reliable reporting agencies, once a year? If you want to check your eligibility for a loan or just want to make sure your record is clean, a free credit report is the perfect first step. This page will teach you how to get a free credit report without being scammed.
The information on your credit report determines whether you will get a credit card, a loan, or a mortgage. It can even affect your chances of getting an apartment or a job. The passage of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act in December 2003 required each of three credit agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) to give consumers a free report once every twelve months upon request.U.S. General Printing Office: Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 Though many websites and other sources claim they will give you a free credit report, most are scams. Avoid the fraudsters by following the instructions below.
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Get a Free Credit Report
You are eligible to get a free credit report once a year! But this video shows how you can get up to three free credit reports a year. Keeping on top ... read moreYou are eligible to get a free credit report once a year! But this video shows how you can get up to three free credit reports a year. Keeping on top of your credit is a key step in gaining control of your debt and finances.
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Things to Know Before You Get a Credit Report
Avoid frustration - have documents on hand- Before you try to access your credit reports, you'll need your financial records at hand. You should make a decision about how you want to obtain the reports - by phone, mail or Internet. You may also want to think about whether you want to get them all at once, or space them out.
- You may be asked detailed financial information before you are given your information. Make sure to have your financial records at hand, as well as a list of the addresses you've lived at over the past several years.MSN Money: Credit reports now free for entire U.S.
- The Motley Fool notes that not all companies report your information to all three credit agencies. Some only report to one or two, which means your data could vary widely between the agencies' reports.Motley Fool: Your Free Credit Report Is Here! (September 2, 2005) MSN Money: How to read your credit report
- Companies who plan to do business with you will often only contact one credit reporting company to learn your credit status. If that report isn't accurate, it could damage your reputation.
- Consumers Union recommends that you get one at a time, every 4 months. In other words, get one from Experian now, one from Equifax four months from today, and one from TransUnion four months after that date.ConsumersUnion.org: What should I do if I become a victim of identity theft?
- The Motley Fool recommends consumers get their first credit reports all at once, and then twelve months later begin acquiring them one at a time on an every four months schedule.Motley Fool: Your Free Credit Report Is Here! (September 2, 2005)
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How to Get a Free Credit Report on the Web
- The easiest way to get a free credit report is via the Web. However, you can't get it from the individual credit agency websites; you must go to the official website set up by the three agencies.Get Rich Slowly: How to Obtain Your Free Credit Report (July 11, 2006)
- Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only website authorized to give out annual free credit reports.AnnualCreditReport.com: Official Site
AnnualCreditReport.com - In the window in the middle of the page, where it says "Start Here", select your state from the pull-down menu.
- Click the "Request Report" button.
- On the page that appears, type out your personal information.
- If you have lived at your current address for less than two years, you will need to give your previous address as well.
- At the bottom of the page, click the "Continue" button.
You do not have to purchase any offered services to get your free credit report - The next page will let you choose which companies you would like to get a credit report from. Select the company (or companies) you are interested in, and click "Next".
- Each company will give you a free report only once every 12 months.
- The company you've selected may ask you detailed financial information in order to identify you. Make sure to have your financial records on hand!MSN Money: Credit reports now free for entire U.S.
- The companies will often give you the option of adding more services for a fee. They're just trying to make money off you. You are not required to add these services.New York Times: Free Credit Reports Coming, With Pitches (November 30, 2004)
- Click "Accept" to accept their service agreement.
- You will now be able to view and print out your credit report.
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How to Get a Free Credit Report by Phone
- If you don't have a way to print your report and want a hard copy, getting your report by phone may be your best option. It will also protect you from fraudulent web sites.Michigan Office of the Attorney General: Free Annual Credit Reports-- What Consumers Should Know (March 2008)
Photo by Girinath Gopinath.
- Call 1-877-322-8228 from your home phone.
- You will need to give your name, current address, social security number, and date of birth.
- The service is almost entirely voice activated.
- Only your social security number and birth date can be entered via your telephone's keypad.
- If you have any problems with speech or the English language, this option will not work well for you!Washington Post Blogs: The Checkout: Check Out Your Credit Report (January 24, 2006)
- After you identify yourself, you can choose which companies you would like to get a credit report from.
- Each company will give you a free credit report only once every 12 months.
- You will receive your credit report by mail in four to five weeks.
- If you don't have a way to print your report and want a hard copy, getting your report by phone may be your best option. It will also protect you from fraudulent web sites.Michigan Office of the Attorney General: Free Annual Credit Reports-- What Consumers Should Know (March 2008)
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How to Get a Free Credit Report by Mail
- Download the official request form (in PDF format) from AnnualCreditReport.com at this link.
- Print out the form.
- Fill out the form.
- Mail the form to:
- Annual Credit Report Request Service
- P.O. Box 105281
- Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
- You will receive your credit report by mail in four to five weeks (up to 15 days for processing, then two to three weeks for delivery).AnnualCreditReport.com: Request Your Free Annual Credit Report Online, by Phone or By Mail
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Additional Resources for How to Get a Free Credit Report
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FTC.gov: Your Access to Free Credit Reports
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Government Printing Office: Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003
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Michigan Office of the Attorney General: Free Annual Credit Reports-What Consumers Should Know
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TransUnion: Check Your Credit Report and Credit Score Online, Instantly and Securely
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Equifax: Credit Reports, Credit Scores, Protection Against Identity Theft
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Experian: Official Site
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FTC.gov: Your Access to Free Credit Reports
