The Truth About ‘Free’ Credit Reports

Getting a ’free’ credit report with no strings attached…

It seems like everywhere you look– surfing online, watching TV or reading the newspaper– you see advertisements for ’FREE CREDIT REPORTS’. But the truth is, 99% of these ads are just promotional gimmicks used to lure you in to using some type of financial product or service. Normally, you don’t receive a ‘free credit report’ until you sign up for a ’free trial’ of credit monitoring with one of these services. If you don’t cancel before the trial period ends, the company starts charging monthly fees to your credit card. Sure, you can cancel before the trial period ends– but isn’t there an easier way to get a free credit report?

 You have 2 options:

1.) Thanks to a federal law enacted in 2005, you are entitled to one free credit report per year from all 3 major credit reporting agencies, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. They’ve set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number and a mailing address so you can order your free annual reports. You can order all three at the same time, or you can order from each company individually at different times throughout the year. To order, visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:

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

2.) Under federal law, you’re also entitled to a free credit report anytime a company denies your application for credit, insurance, or employment. You have 60 days to take action and request your report. The company must give you the name, address, and phone number of the credit reporting agency to contact. You’re also entitled to a free credit report if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you’re on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.

 You can contact the 3 major credit reporting agencies individually at:

Equifax
Report fraud: 1-800-525-6285
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013
 
TransUnion
Report fraud: 1-800-680-7289
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
 
Experian
Report fraud: 1-888-397-3742
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013

Of course, you can also purchase your credit report if you’ve already exhausted these options. To see a complete list of products, please visit our section on Credit Reports >>>