The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three credit bureaus to provide consumers with one free credit report per year. Federal law also entitles consumers to receive free credit reports if any company has taken adverse action against them. This includes denial of credit, insurance or employment, as well as other reports from collection agencies or judgments. But consumers must request the report within 60 days from the date the adverse action occurred.
In addition, consumers who are on welfare, unemployed people who plan to look for a job within 60 days and victims of identity theft are also entitled to a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus.
Getting free credit reports under the FCRA
The three major credit bureaus have set up a central website and a mailing address where you can order your free annual report.
You may get your free reports at the same time or one at a time - the law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the credit bureaus every 12 months.
To get your free reports, visit AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Warning about (free credit report) "impostor" websites
Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law: AnnualCreditReport.com. Other websites that claim to offer "free credit reports," "free credit scores," or "free credit monitoring" are not part of the legally-mandated free annual credit report program.
In some cases, the "free" product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly "free" service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don't cancel during the trial period, you may unwittingly agree to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.
Some "impostor" sites use terms like "free report" in their names; others have URLs that purposely misspell Annualcreditreport.com in the hopes that you will mistype the name of the official site. Some of these "imposter" sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information.
Annualcreditreport.com and the nationwide credit reporting companies will not send you an email asking for your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from Annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide credit reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It's probably a scam. Ensure you are on the right website by verifying through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Do free credit reports include FICO® Scores?
The free credit reports provided from Annualcreditreport.com don't include your FICO Scores. If you'd like to know what your FICO Scores are, you can checkout where to get FICO Scores here.
FAQs
The three major credit bureaus have set up a central website and a mailing address where you can order your free annual report. You may get your free reports at the same time or one at a time - the law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the credit bureaus every 12 months.
How can I get a totally free credit report? ›
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.
Is AnnualCreditReport.com a legitimate site? ›
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 to get 800 900 credit score? ›
To land in the top range — and be considered "exceptional” by the credit bureaus — there are some essential financial practices you should meet on a consistent basis, such as: Having a strong payment history. Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio. Having no derogatory remarks such as late payments.
What is the only legitimate source for free credit reports? ›
Order online from annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports, or call 1-877-322-8228. You will need to provide your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.
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.
Is myFICO free legit? ›
Free Plan. The no-cost version of MyFICO provides coverage from only one of the three major credit bureaus and a single FICO score. You'll get a monthly credit report from Equifax, and your FICO 8 score based on that report data.
Is a FICO score of 8 good? ›
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
Where is the safest place to get your credit report? ›
Three major credit reporting agencies provide credit reports: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. 123 These may be the safest routes to obtaining your credit history, which ultimately affects your personal credit score.
Which credit report is free from the government? ›
Thanks to a new federal law, consumers can get one free credit report a year from each of the three national credit bureaus. Those bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data.
Can I buy a house with a 705 credit score? ›
Home loans
Your credit score might be only one piece of your home mortgage application, but it's among the most critical. With a 705 credit score, you're well above the 620 baseline score needed to qualify for most home loans, but borrowers with a 740 score or higher will typically get a better interest rate.
What is the average credit score in the US? ›
The average credit score in the United States is 705, based on VantageScore® data from March 2024. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores, because there are many different types of credit scores and scoring models.
Is FreeCreditReport.com legit? ›
FreeCreditScore.com, FreeCreditReport.com and Credit.com are websites owned by Experian Consumer Direct, a subsidiary of the credit bureau Experian. The sites offer users their personal credit reports from Experian on the condition that they sign up for Experian's Triple Advantage credit monitoring program for a fee.
Is Credit Karma accurate? ›
Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.
How frequently can you request and receive a free credit report from Experian? ›
Experian, TransUnion and Equifax now offer all U.S. consumers free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com. Under federal law you are entitled to a copy of your credit report annually from all three credit reporting agencies - Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion® - once every 12 months.
Is there a free version of TransUnion? ›
You can also get a free weekly TransUnion credit report through the TransUnion Service Center. If you don't have a TransUnion Service Center account, you can create one for free.
