How to Request Free Yearly Credit Report From Three Major Credit Bureaus

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, every consumer has a right to request a free yearly credit report from the three major credit bureaus. These three companies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) jointly sponsor Annual Credit Report Service. This service is the sole provider of free credit reports authorized by the Federal Trade Commission. The credit reports you get won't include your credit score (you have to pay for that) but do include all of the information that is currently in your credit history.

Instructions

1

Decide how you want to order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. You can get your report immediately online (see Step 2). Alternatively, you may call (877) 322-8228 toll-free and, through an automated process on the phone, order your report. It will take about 15 days for a phone request to be processed and mailed to you.

2

Get your free annual report instantly by using the online facility, www.AnnualCreditReport.com. On the webpage, you'll be asked to select your state and then select "Start."

3

Enter your name and birth date in the boxes provided. You also must provide your Social Security number and your current address. If you have lived there for less than one year, you'll need to enter your previous address as well. At the end is a box with a set of random numbers and letters. Enter these in the box provided and choose "Submit."

4

Choose to receive one, two or all three credit bureau reports when the screen comes up. Choose "Submit" and the system will link you to the website of the first credit bureau you picked. You'll be asked to enter the last four digits of your Social Security number.

5

Look carefully at the credit bureau webpage. The credit bureaus like to place ads here urging you to buy your credit score and credit monitoring services. Hunt until you find the link to the free report. Usually this is at the bottom of the page, so scroll down. Double-check to be sure you are choosing the free report option.

6

Answer the questions that will appear on the screen. The system will generate several questions based on your credit report in order to verify your identity. Choose "Submit" and your credit report will come up on the screen.

7

Decide if you want to save or print a copy of your report. Be sure to record the report number. This will enable you to return to the website and access the report again if you wish or file a dispute if you find information you believe to be inaccurate. You can also add explanatory notes if you wish.