How to Obtain Your Free
Credit Report

Beware!

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning many consumers to be careful of many web sites posing as the free annual credit report site who are engaged in fraudulent activities.

Until 2005, consumers used to have to pay to see their credit reports. Soon after that law changed, Experian, one of the three major credit-reporting agencies, agreed to pay $950,000 to settle charges that it deceived consumers into signing up for its credit-monitoring service by offering free credit reports. The FTC said Experian's Internet sites, www.freecreditreport.com and www.consumerinfo.com, failed to adequately disclose that consumers who ordered their credit reports would automatically be charged $79.95.

More currently, consumers must be wary when searching for "free credit report" or accidently misspelling the "annualcreditreport" web address. If you do, you will find many other official-looking sites that will either require you to sign up for their costly credit-monitoring services will simply send you scam email. For example, if you typed "www.abnualcreditreport.com", you will be redirected to www.nationalcreditreport.com, a company operated out of Boca Raton, Fla. that charges nearly $35 for a copy of your credit report. Also, if you get an email offering a credit report, don’t reply or click on the link in the email.

If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC’s Identity Theft web site to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from identity theft.

 

The Only Official Ways to Obtain Your Free Credit Report

Monitoring your credit reports is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from criminals who want to shoplift your identity. If you are going to order your reports online, the only web site you need to know is www.annualcreditreport.com

To order your credit report you'll need to contact one credit reporting agency (CRA) and you'll be given the option to order from the other 2 CRAs as well.

  • Equifax: Call 1-800-685-1111
  • TransUnion: 1-877-322-8228
  • Experian: 1-888-397-3742

Already Gotten Your Free Report for the Year?

 

There are exceptions to this one-per-consumer-per-year rule

  • The easiest way: You are entitled to receive a free credit report from the CRAs if you have applied for credit, employment, or insurance within the last 60 days. The only catch is that, for example, if you apply for credit with a bank that only reports to Equifax, you will only receive a free report from Equifax. If the bank reports to all 3 CRAs, then you will receive all 3 reports. After you apply for credit, employment, or insurance, simply phone in to all 3 CRAs. Their systems are completely automated, so when you indicate that you have applied for credit they will check to see if they have any record of you applying for credit. They will either verify and send you a report or indicate they have no record of you applying for credit and you will not receive a free report from that CRA. If you want a credit report, simply go apply for credit and call the CRAs three to four weeks later for your free credit report.
  • If you were charged higher rates and fees or deposits based on a credit report issued by a CRA, you have the right to get a free report from that CRA
  • If you certify in writing that either you are unemployed and plan to seek employment in the next 60 days
  • If you are on welfare
  • If you write to say you were a victim of fraud

 

A Word of Caution:

If your phone request gets lost, you will have to write anyway. If you call Equifax, they will mail you a piece of paper that asks you to send a written request containing proof of address, your driver's license, name, date of birth and SSN. If you cannot take advantage of any of these opportunities for a free report, a CRA may charge you up to $10.50 for another copy of your report within a 12-month period. To write to the three CRAs:

  • TransUnion mailing address:
    TransUnion
    P.O. Box 2000
    Chester, PA 19022-2000
  • Equifax mailing address:
    Equifax
    P.O. Box 740241
    Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  • Experian mailing address:
    Experian
    P.O. Box 2104
    Allen, TX 75013-2104
Disclaimer: The information provided in this site is not legal advice. All information is general information, some of which pertains to legal issues involved in the subject matter. Credit Matters Inc. is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney or law firm. Your access to and use of this site is subject to additional terms and conditions.

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