How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

You have the right to request one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three major consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. You may also be able to view free reports more frequently online.

Where can I get a credit report?

You can request and review your free report through one of the following ways:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

You can request all three reports at once or you can order one report at a time. By requesting the reports separately (for example, one every four months) you can monitor your credit report throughout the year. Once you’ve received your annual free credit report, you can still request additional reports. By law, a credit reporting company can charge no more than $14.50 for a credit report.

You may be able to view free credit reports more frequently online. When you visit AnnualCreditReport.com , you may see steps to view your updated credit reports at no cost, online. This gives you a greater ability to monitor changes in your credit. If needed, you can also ask whether your credit report is available in your preferred language.

You are also eligible for reports from specialty consumer reporting companies. We put together a list that includes several of these companies so you can see which ones might be important to you. You have to request the reports individually from each of these companies. Most of the companies in this list provide a report for free every 12 months. Other companies may charge you a fee for your report.

How can I get additional free credit reports?

You can get additional free reports if any of the following apply to you:

  • You received a notice that you were denied credit, insurance, or employment or experienced another “adverse action” based on a credit report. In this case, you have a right to a free report from the credit reporting company identified in the notice. To get the free report you must request it within 60 days after you receive the notice. Other types of “adverse action” notices you might receive include notice of an unfavorable change in the terms or amount of your credit or insurance coverage, or unfavorable changes in the terms of your employment or of a license or other government benefit.
  • You believe your file is inaccurate due to fraud.
  • You have requested a credit report from a nationwide credit reporting company in connection with placing of an initial fraud alert on your credit file (you may request two free copies for an extended fraud alert).
  • You are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days from the date of your request.
  • You are a recipient of public welfare assistance.
  • Your state law provides for a free credit report.

How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (1)

How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

You can request and review your free report through one of the following ways: Online: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com. Phone: Call (877) 322-8228. Mail: Download and complete the Annual Credit Report Request form .

How to get a free credit report from the credit bureau? ›

You can request and review your free report through one of the following ways: Online: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com. Phone: Call (877) 322-8228. Mail: Download and complete the Annual Credit Report Request form .

How can consumers obtain free copies of credit reports? ›

How To Get Your Free Annual Credit Reports
  • visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • call 1-877-322-8228, or.
  • complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

What is the only place to get a copy of your credit report for free once a year from each of the three credit reporting bureau ›

You can get a free report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can request all three of your reports at once, or you can space them out over the course of the year.

How do I get a free copy of my credit file? ›

You can either request your credit history via a basic statutory report for free, or new customers can sign up to a free trial of CreditExpert which will include your Experian Credit Score, fraud monitoring and alerts, and tailored guidance on how to improve how lenders see you.

Is AnnualCreditReport.com a legitimate website? ›

AnnualCreditReport.com is the official site to get your free annual credit reports. This right is guaranteed by Federal law. You can verify this is the official site by visiting the CFPB's website. Don't be fooled by look-alike sites.

How do I get my true FICO score for free? ›

Step 1 – Check with your bank or credit union

If your bank or credit union partners with FICO, log in to your account online. You will likely be provided with a free FICO Score.

What is the only authorized online website for free credit reports? ›

Lots of sites promise credit reports for free. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official site explicitly directed by Federal law to provide them.

What act allows you to receive a free copy of your credit report? ›

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) provides you with better access to your credit information. Under FACTA, consumers are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian).

Can anyone look at a consumer's credit report? ›

While the general public can't see your credit report, some groups have legal access to that personal information. Those groups include lenders, creditors, landlords, employers, insurance companies, government agencies and utility providers.

How frequently can you request a free copy of your credit report? ›

Other sites may charge you or be fraudulent sites set up to steal your personal information. By law, everyone is entitled to one free credit report every twelve months from each of the three credit reporting agencies.

What is considered an excellent credit score? ›

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Which credit report is most accurate? ›

Simply put, there is no “more accurate” score when it comes down to receiving your score from the major credit bureaus.

What are the 3 ways you can obtain a free copy of your annual credit report? ›

You may request your reports:
  • Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • By calling 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)
  • By filling out the Annual Credit Report request form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service. PO Box 105281. Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Mar 26, 2024

How much does it cost to get a copy of your credit file? ›

You can easily check your credit report – and it's totally free. Here's a quick lowdown if you know what you're doing and just want to get on with it. Alternatively, read our How to check your credit score for free guide below or check out our Credit scores guide for tips on how to improve your score.

How do I get a copy of my real credit report? ›

You can visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request your free credit report. You are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

What is the most accurate free credit score site? ›

Generally, Credit Karma is the overall best site in terms of getting free credit scores and free credit reports.

Which credit bureau is most accurate? ›

There is no “best” credit bureau—all three bureaus can offer helpful information and tools to help you make financial decisions.

Is it safe to get a free credit report? ›

No, requesting your credit report does not hurt your credit score. You can check your credit at no charge at annualcreditreport.com . You can review your credit report online for free once a week, from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

How accurate is credit karma? ›

The credit scores and credit reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. They should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus — but they may not match other reports and scores out there.

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