How to get your free credit reports, including weekly access

You can see your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion for free. There’s one official place to order them, and federal law gives you extra free copies in certain situations.

Why your credit reports matter

A credit report summarizes your credit history. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it includes identifying information, like your address and date of birth, and your credit history, like how you pay your bills and whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy.

The three nationwide credit bureaus sell this information to businesses that decide whether to lend you money, extend credit, offer insurance or rent you housing, and on what terms. Some employers use credit reports in hiring decisions too. That’s why it’s worth knowing what your reports say before someone else reads them.

Each bureau may hold different information about you, since not every creditor reports to all three. The FTC suggests reviewing all three reports.

Your right to free reports

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the nationwide bureaus must give you a free copy of your report once every 12 months when you ask. The law says this right applies when you request it through the centralized source, which is AnnualCreditReport.com.

On top of that yearly right, the FTC says all three bureaus have permanently extended a program that lets you get free reports every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) adds that you can choose to view reports from one, two or all three bureaus when you visit.

How to order your reports

Use one of these three methods. The FTC says not to contact the three bureaus individually for these free reports.

• Online: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
• Phone: Call 1-877-322-8228.
• Mail: Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

The FTC says AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized to fill orders for the free reports you’re entitled to under federal law.

What you’ll need to provide

• Your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth
• Your previous address, if you’ve moved in the last two years
• Answers to questions that only you would know, such as the amount of your monthly mortgage payment

You’ll need to answer those security questions separately for each bureau. If there’s a problem verifying your identity, it can take longer to get your report.

When your reports arrive

If you order online, the FTC says you’ll have access right away. If you order by phone or mail, your report is processed and mailed within 15 days.

Accessible formats

Reports are available in Braille, large print or audio formats, and the FTC says they take about three weeks to arrive. If you’re blind or print disabled, call 877-322-8228, verify your identity, certify that you’re visually impaired under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and choose your format. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, call 7-1-1 to reach your local TDD relay service and ask the operator to connect you to the TDD service at 1-800-821-7232. The CFPB also says you can ask whether your report is available in your preferred language.

Other times you can get a free report

Federal law and the FTC list several situations that qualify you for an additional free report:

• You got an adverse action notice, such as a denial of credit, insurance or employment, based on your credit report. Ask for your report within 60 days of the notice.
• You’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days.
• You receive public welfare assistance.
• Your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.
• You have a fraud alert on your credit file.

For these, contact a bureau directly. The FTC lists bureau contact information at IdentityTheft.gov/CreditBureauContacts. The CFPB notes that your state’s law may also give you a free report, so it’s worth checking with your state attorney general.

If you don’t qualify for a free report, a bureau may charge you a reasonable amount, and federal law caps that fee. You can read more in the post on your free report after a credit denial.

When to check

The FTC suggests checking your reports at least once a year, and before you apply for credit, a loan, insurance, housing or a job. If you find a mistake, you have the right to dispute it. See your credit rights for an overview.

If you get an unexpected email, pop-up or call claiming to be from AnnualCreditReport.com or a bureau, the FTC says don’t reply or click any links. You can report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.

The short version

• Order free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by mail.
• Federal law gives you one free report from each bureau every 12 months, and the bureaus offer free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
• You may get extra free reports after an adverse action, fraud, unemployment or while receiving public assistance.
• AnnualCreditReport.com is the only authorized site for the free reports federal law provides.
• Check all three reports at least once a year and before big applications.

Sources

• FTC: Free Credit Reports
• CFPB: How do I get a free copy of my credit reports?
• 15 U.S. Code § 1681j: Charges for certain disclosures

General information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and government guidance change, so check the sources above for the latest.