How to Get Your Free Annual Credit Report
Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit reports from the big three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Pulling these reports is free and won’t affect your credit score.
Previously, you could request free copies of your credit reports once per year, but you can now access your credit reports for free every week.
- You are legally entitled to a free annual credit report, but you can currently request a free copy of your report from each of the credit bureaus as frequently as once per week.
- The information reported by each of the credit bureaus may be different, so it’s important to review all three of your credit reports.
- You can request credit reports online, by phone or by mail.
How to get a free copy of your credit report
If you want to better understand your credit, you’ll need your credit report. Here’s how you can request a free copy of your credit report in a few simple steps.
1. Submit a request online, by phone or by mail
You can request a free copy of your credit report in one of three ways:
- Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com — this is typically the easiest and fastest option
- Over the phone by calling 1-877-322-8228
- By mail using the Annual Credit Report Request Form
To make a request by mail, send the completed form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Keep in mind that you’ll need to submit a separate request for each of the three credit bureaus. Because some lenders only report information to one or two of the bureaus, the information included on each report may be different. For this reason, it’s a good idea to request all three of your credit reports to review them side-by-side.
To submit your request, be prepared to provide your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. If you’ve moved in the last two years, you may also need to provide your previous address. To verify your identity, each credit bureau will also ask questions that only you would know the answers to, such as the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.
2. Wait for your report to arrive
If you request copies of your free reports online, you’ll be able to access them immediately. Save and/or print your reports so you can review them in detail and reference them later if needed.
If you request your credit reports by phone or mail, you’ll need to wait for them to arrive. In general, reports requested over the phone are processed and mailed to you within 15 days. Requests made via mail take the longest to fulfill, but you can typically expect to receive your report within 15 days of the date your request was received.
3. Review your report
When your free copies arrive, take the time to review your credit reports. Check that the information on each report is accurate, complete and up to date. The information included on your credit reports can help you understand what might be driving your credit scores up or pushing them down.
If you find anything that doesn’t make sense, such as an account you didn’t open or a late payment you don’t recognize, it could be a sign of fraud or identity theft. You can dispute errors on your credit file by contacting the credit reporting agency online, by phone or by mail. You can also report consumer fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), though you’ll still need to dispute any errors with the credit reporting agency.
When to check your credit reports
It’s a good idea to check your credit reports from each of the credit bureaus regularly to see if anything has changed and watch for signs of fraud. Plus, the information in your reports may make it easier to understand the factors that are having the biggest impact on your credit scores.
But there are other reasons you might want to check your credit report. For example, if your application for a loan or credit card is denied based on the information in your report, you might want to request an updated copy to find out why.
At a minimum, plan to review your credit reports each year. It can also be wise to review your reports before major purchases or before submitting applications for new credit to understand your approval odds.
Credit report vs. credit score
Most consumers understand the importance of a credit score, but without a credit report, it can be next to impossible to determine why you have that score — and what you need to do to improve it. That’s why federal law dictates that you must be able to access annual credit reports free of charge.
Your credit report is a detailed document that summarizes your credit history, including the types of credit accounts you have, the amount of time you’ve been using credit and any negative actions creditors have taken against you. You have a separate credit report with each credit bureau, and because creditors don’t always report to all three, the information included on each report may be different. But in general, your credit reports will cover:
- Types of accounts
- Age of accounts
- Payment history
- History of hard credit inquiries
- Details on accounts sent to collections
- Public record information, such as liens, foreclosures and bankruptcies
How to check your credit score
Although your credit reports contain a plethora of information, one thing they don’t include is your actual credit score. Your credit scores are based on the information included in your credit reports, and as we’ve covered, reviewing this information might make it easier to figure out what you need to focus on to improve your credit.
That being said, it’s also important to know your credit score. You can check your score for free with LendingTree Spring. Signing up for a LendingTree Spring account gives you access to useful tips and tailored suggestions on how to improve your score.
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