nce a year from each of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
To order your free credit reports, you can call the official toll-free number, (877) 322-8228. You can also go online to www.annualcreditreport.com where you can order your reports directly. Or you can print out the form and mail your request. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf
A word of caution: Do not attempt to obtain your free annual credit reports through an Internet search for terms like "free credit report" or "free credit check." You could land on a site that sells credit reports along with fee-based credit monitoring plans and a variety of other products and services.
For more information about access to free credit reports, see the Federal Trade Commission's Facts for Consumers at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports .
You are not required to order all three credit reports at the same time. If you wish, you can stagger your free reports over the course of a year by ordering one report every four months. This way, you are monitoring your credit reports on an ongoing basis. But if you are an identity theft victim or are shopping for credit, it is best to order all three at one time.
There are certain times when you are entitled to an additional free copy for special circumstances. The rule that gives you free access once a year does not affect your ability to get a free report in the situations listed below. You are entitled to a free credit report:
- If you have been denied credit (you must request a copy within 60 days) If you are unemployed and intend to apply for employment in the next 60 days If you are on public welfare assistance If you have reason to believe your file contains inaccurate information due to fraud or identity theft If an adverse decision related to your employment has been made based in whole or in part on information contained in the report If your report has been revised based upon an investigation you request
Further, the laws in seven states give residents the ability to obtain credit reports free of charge. This is over and above the free annual credit report available nationwide. These states are: Colorado, Georgia (2 per year), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont.
Can I obtain my credit report from other companies?
Yes. You may also obtain a copy of your credit report from companies who contract with the CRAs to market their products. Always be careful to examine these companies and their offers carefully.
Some companies sell a merged version of all three reports. Some also provide credit monitoring services that alert you to activity on your report, such as any new credit accounts, the placement of negative information and inquiries from creditors. Some companies provide free create reports which are paid for by their advertsing partners.
4. Dealing with Negative Information and Errors
How will I know if there is negative information in my report?
The best way to determine if you have negative information in your credit report is to order a copy and check it carefully. For a thorough review, you should check with all three CRAs since there may be some
variations in the file that each CRA maintains on you. This should be done at least once a year.
In addition to taking advantage of your free annual credit reports, you should also check your credit report when you know it is going to be used to make important decisions, such as applying for an automobile or home loan, renting an apartment, or applying for a job. Reports should be ordered at least one to two months before you apply for credit or intend to rent. At these crucial times, you do not want to be surprised to find that your report contains negative information, especially if that information is inaccurate.
A creditor has the duty to report only accurate, complete, and updated information to a CRA. For example, if you close an account voluntarily, your creditor must report this fact in order to distinguish it from an account that is closed for nonpayment.
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