It's FREE!

Where can I get a FREE credit report?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, www.annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized source for free annual credit reports under federal law. Through the Fair Credit Reporting Act you are guaranteed a free credit report from three nationwide agencies every twelve months. These three agencies are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Don’t be fooled by catchy jingles – many consumers have complained to the FTC about companies who promise free credit reports but charge the consumers hidden fees or sign the consumers up for unwanted services.

To request a free credit report, you can visit www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also call 1-877-322-8228 or mail a request to the address listed on their Web site.  You can choose to receive all three credit reports at once, or you may choose to request only one at a time to monitor your credit throughout the year.

The FTC suggests you request a credit report at least once a year. This way you can catch errors or unauthorized activities posted to your credit report. Knowing your credit score can help when you apply for credit, insurance, a job, or a rental home. If you find an error, you should contact the agency your credit report came from. If there is unauthorized activity, you should report that to the same agency so a fraud alert can be placed on your credit report. Other ways to protect your credit report can be found on the FTC’s Web site, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft.