Accessing Your Credit Report
Access your Credit Report for Free
Consumers are entitled to one free credit report per year from the credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
You can access your credit report by calling
1-877-322-8228 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-322-8228 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
or visit http://www.annualcreditreport.com.
You can also mail a completed copy of the Annual Credit Report Request Form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. All three bureaus send your credit report for free through this service once per every twelve month period, if you so request. All other sites that promise you a free report often have hidden charges or are a total scam.
Monitoring your Credit Report
Every consumer should monitor their credit report and review it for any inaccuracies. Being prepared is beneficial. For example, you may be a small business owner wanting to apply for a loan. Bringing a copy of your report will be better for you because it will lessen the number of “hard” inquiries that will knock points off of your credit score. Checking your credit report is also a good idea before you an application process.
Annual Free Credit Reports
Other than your annual free report, you may be entitled to a free copy if you have been turned down for a car, house or large loan for your credit history or if you have been a victim of identity theft. You can order your report from each bureau anytime for around $10. Call or visit each bureau's website to get your credit report directly from them.
- Understanding Credit:
