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Monitoring Your Credit Report

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Obtaining a Free Credit Report

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Credit Score Myths

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What Your Credit History Says About You

Credit Reports: Obtaining a Free Credit Report

Obtaining a free credit report is easy and a smart thing to do. Creditors, lenders, insurance companies, and employers use the information that appears on this report to make assumptions about you. If you are wondering exactly what they're looking at, this article can help by providing tips on obtaining a free credit report.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report at your request once every 12 months. If you are wondering how you can obtain a copy of your free credit report, the information shown below can help:


Requesting a Free Credit Report
To request a free credit report, you can contact the central website, telephone number, or address set up by the three nationwide consumer reporting companies. You can also contact one of the many other companies who offer this same service. However, if the credit report is not obtained from one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies, there may be strings attached or charges and fees that you will be required to pay. To avoid confusion, be sure to read all of the fine print before making your request.

Other Ways to Get a Free Credit Report
You may also be entitled to a free credit report if a company or lender takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment. When you receive the notice of denial, use the contact information found in the notice to request a free copy of your report within 60 days.