Your Free Credit Reports
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a good deal. Under the FCRA, all U.S. consumers are entitled to a free credit report each year. This allows you to get a free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies annually. Before paying for a credit report, take advantage of this benefit.
When you go through the process of viewing your reports, you get a credit-file disclosure. This disclosure has all of the information that the credit-reporting company might send to a potential lender, employer, or other party that asks for your report. It also has information meant for your eyes only, such as soft inquiries and more detailed information about any medical accounts. These additional details help you keep tabs on who is doing what with your credit.
Instant Access to Your Reports
The quickest and easiest way to get your free credit reports is online. The three major credit reporting companies — Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian — joined forces to create a Web site for this purpose,
Full name, including middle initial and suffix (Jr., Sr., etc.)
Current address (and any recent previous addresses)
Social Security Number
Date of birth
You'll then have a choice of which credit report you want to view, Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. In addition to the personal information above, you'll have to provide additional details to each credit-reporting company for final verification. You'll be asked a question that only you should know the answer to. For example, you might be asked for an account number, payment amount, loan provider, or loan balance.
When you successfully prove your identity, you'll be able to see your credit file online. In addition to your reports, the credit-reporting agencies will offer to sell you a credit score and other services at this time.
Other Ways to Order Reports
As part of the FCRA's free credit-report program, you can order your credit-file disclosures in a variety of ways. If you can't or don't want to view your reports online, you can order them via phone or mail. To order your credit reports over the phone, call 877-322-8228. You'll go through a verification process similar to the one described above. Your reports will be mailed to you within fifteen days.
Watch out for imposters and online scammers! You might think you're at a reputable Web site, but in fact you're giving out information that will be used for identity theft (you may have misspelled the Web site's address or followed a deceptive link). Always double check before you submit your personal details.
If you'd like to request your reports via the mail, you have to send in a request. You can download a request form at
Don't Get Them All at Once
You don't have to order all of your free credit reports at once. The program keeps track of which credit-reporting company you have ordered from each year. If you want to get all three at the same time that's fine, and it's a good way to compare the differences among reports. You'll probably find that one company has more complete or accurate information. A one-time snapshot helps you see the different information credit-reporting companies have on you.
If you want to stagger the dates, you can get periodic reports throughout the year. For example, you might get a credit report from a different reporting company every four months. This would help you monitor your credit over time. You won't have to wait a full year to discover if somebody is reporting that you make late payments. Also, you can see if there are any new unauthorized accounts in your name, which might indicate identity theft.
