Get Your 3 Free Credit Reports and Fix Errors That Cost You

Why this money matters to you

Errors on your credit report can quietly cost you. A mistake can raise the interest you pay on a loan or a credit card. It can even affect a job or an apartment.

The good news: checking is free. You have the right to one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You get these at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally authorized source.

This is your money and your right. No paid middleman is needed. Beware of any site or service that charges you to see reports you can get for free.

Pull all three reports this week

You can get all three reports at once, or space them out (one every four months) to watch your credit through the year.

There are three ways to request them. Online at AnnualCreditReport.com. By phone at (877) 322-8228. Or by mail, using the Annual Credit Report Request form sent to the Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you visit the site, you may see steps to view updated reports at no cost, online, more often than once a year. You can also ask if your report is available in your preferred language.

What to check on each report

Read each report closely. Check that your name, address, and Social Security number are correct.

Look at every account. Make sure the accounts are yours and the balances look right. Watch for accounts you never opened, which can be a sign of fraud.

Check for late payments you know you made on time. Check for the same debt listed twice. These are the kinds of errors that can lower your score and cost you money.

Free extra reports you may be owed

You can get more free reports in certain cases. If you got a notice that you were denied credit, insurance, or a job based on a credit report, you have a right to a free report from the company named in the notice. You must request it within 60 days of getting the notice.

You can also get free reports if you believe your file is wrong due to fraud, if you placed a fraud alert, if you are unemployed and plan to apply for a job within 60 days, if you receive public welfare assistance, or if your state law provides one.

By law, a credit reporting company can charge no more than $14.50 for a report. But in the cases above, and for your yearly copies, it is free.

Frequently asked questions

Is AnnualCreditReport.com really free?

Yes. It is the only federally authorized source for your free yearly credit reports. You do not need a paid service to get them.

Does checking my own report hurt my score?

Requesting your own credit report does not hurt your score. It is your right to review it.

What if I find a mistake?

Dispute it with the credit reporting company. Disputing errors is free, and correcting them may help your score.

Can I get more than one free report a year?

Yes, in some cases. Examples include an adverse action notice within 60 days, suspected fraud, being unemployed and job hunting, or receiving public welfare assistance.