What is AnnualCreditReport.com?
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website mandated by federal law to get a free copy of your credit report from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You can request your credit reports from each bureau once every 12 months. The three credit bureaus provide access to free annual reports through the only federally mandated website jointly operated by them: AnnualCreditReport.com. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) requires credit bureaus to provide consumers access to free credit reports once every 12 months.
How to Get a Credit Report Through AnnualCreditReport.com
The AnnualCreditReport.com website isn’t pretty. However, accessing your credit report is quite easy. There are three credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You are able to pull all 3 credit reports from these credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com.
The report you receive from AnnualCreditReport.com should be scrutinized for accuracy. This is your opportunity to verify the information, dispute any inaccuracies, and correct any errors.
Tips to Access Your Free Credit Report
- Double-check the website URL: www.AnnualCreditReport.com
- Don’t input your credit card. If you’re entering your credit card to access your credit report, then you’re on the wrong credit report website. Again, no credit card input needed at the correct website.
- Get a credit report from one bureau at a time. Don’t pull all 3 credit reports at once. The amount of information you’ll need to sift through can be quite daunting.
- Choose one credit bureau. Request the report online. Review the information.
- Dispute inaccuracies online. All disputes must be resolved within 30 days.
Once you’re satisfied with the credit report, pull the next credit report and follow the steps above once again.
Follow these steps until you’ve reviewed and corrected all three credit reports.
After you’ve requested your reports for the first time, make it a process to request a copy of your reports from each bureau once a year. Set a calendar reminder that repeats indefinitely.
Review Reports Quarterly
I find that once you’ve mastered your credit reports, you can pull your new credit report once every four months. For example, in January, request your Experian report, then in May, request your Equifax report, and in October, request your TransUnion credit report.
This helps you access reports throughout the year. However, I recommend using a free credit monitoring service to help you monitor your credit report. If you’re alerted about changes, you can dispute the information with the bureau, request a credit freeze, or place a fraud alert within your credit files.
Credit Scores Are a Different Story
FACTA and FCRA are federal laws that govern access to credit reports and the process of disputes by consumers. These laws give you the right to access a free copy of your credit report, but they do not include access to credit scores.
When you request a free copy of your credit report on AnnualCreditReport.com, you may be asked if you’d like your credit score.
In fact, when you pull your free credit reports, the credit bureaus may offer a credit score for a fee. Unless you want to pay for your score, you can always check our marketplace to find a free credit score app.
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