How to Get Your Free Credit Report

Your credit report is one of the most important factors in your financial life. It contains a detailed history of your credit accounts including the date you opened the account, the current balance, and the payment history for the account.

Because so many businesses use your credit report to make decisions about you, it's important that you check your credit report at least once a year to be sure the information in your credit report is accurate. Each of the major credit bureaus (the companies who compile your credit report) offers your credit report for sale, but there are instances that you can get a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus.

AnnualCreditReport.com

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) made it possible for you to get a free credit report. Through FACTA you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—each year. You should take advantage of this ability by ordering your credit report and using it to monitor your credit history.

There are specific ways to get a free annual credit report that's allowed under the FACTA.

Online, by visiting annualcreditreport.com
By phone, by calling 877-322-8228
By mail, by printing a request form (Adobe viewer required) and mailing it to the address listed on the form

Don't contact the credit bureaus directly for your free annual credit report.