Free Credit Reports

A great time to conduct credit report checks is right after the holiday season. Especially after the stolen information at major stores such as Target.  The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the three nationwide credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to provide customers with a free copy of their report, upon request, every twelve months. Checking credit reports after the holiday season is a good way for consumers to verify they have not become victims of identity theft or fraud.

A credit report contains personal information, to include your personal home address, how your bills are paid, and whether you have filed for bankruptcy. The nationwide credit reporting companies sell this type of information to insurers, employers, and other businesses that may use it to evaluate personal applications for credit, insurance, employment, and for renting or buying a home.

How to Order a Free Credit Report

The three nationwide credit reporting companies have established a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which a free annual report can be ordered.

• To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228. Or, complete the Annual Report Request Form and mail to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
• Do not contact the three nationwide credit reporting companies, noted above, individually. Free annual credit reports can only be ordered through annualcreditreport.com.
• Credit reports can be ordered from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at the same time, or one at a time from each of the companies. The law allows consumers to order one free credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies every twelve months. It is recommended to stagger requests to credit agencies during a 12-month period in order to keep an eye on your credit throughout the year.

Identity Theft Protection — Beware of “Imposter Websites”

• Annualcreditreport.com is the only website authorized to provide free annual credit reports entitled by law.
• Other sites that offer similar services are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. Many of these so called “free” products come with strings attached. They sign you up for a supposedly “free” service that converts to one that you have to pay for after a trial period.

Some erroneous sites will direct you to other sites that attempt to sell you a product or collect personal or sensitive information