what are the 3 free credit reports

Your Guide to Getting the 3 Free Credit Reports You’re Entitled To

Having access to your credit reports is crucial for monitoring your financial health But did you know that federal law entitles you to get free copies of your reports from each of the 3 major credit bureaus every 12 months? In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get your hands on the 3 free credit reports you’re owed

Overview of the 3 Credit Bureaus

There are 3 major consumer credit reporting agencies (commonly called credit bureaus) that compile information on your credit history and provide it in the form of a credit report

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

While these 3 agencies collect mostly the same information on your credit history, there can be some differences between the 3 reports. So it’s important to check all 3 to get a complete picture of your credit.

Luckily, a federal law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the bureaus once per year. Let’s look at how you can take advantage of this.

How to Get Your 3 Free Credit Reports

Thanks to the FCRA, getting your hands on your credit reports won’t cost you a penny. Here are the ways you can request your 3 free reports:

Online

The officially authorized website for obtaining your free reports is AnnualCreditReport.com. You’ll just need to provide some personal information to verify your identity. Once verified, you can view and print your reports right away.

By Phone

Call 1-877-322-8228 and be prepared to verify your identity over the phone. The reports will then be mailed to you within 15 days.

By Mail

You can print and fill out the request form available on AnnualCreditReport.com, then mail it to:

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

Again, you should receive your reports within 15 days.

I’d recommend requesting your 3 reports online for the fastest access. But you can also space out your requests, getting one now and the other two later in the year.

Just remember that you can only get each report for free once every 12 months. So if you get your Experian report in January 2022, you’ll have to wait until January 2023 to get it again for free.

When You Can Get Additional Free Reports

While you can normally only get each report annually, there are certain situations where you’re entitled to additional free reports, including:

• If you’ve been denied credit or insurance – You can get a free report within 60 days of the denial.

• If you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job soon – Request a free report within 60 days of starting your job search.

• If you’re on public assistance – You can obtain free reports annually while receiving assistance.

• If you suspect identity theft – You’re entitled to free reports from each bureau if you submit an identity theft report.

So be aware you may be able to access extra reports for free if any of those situations apply to you.

What’s In Your Credit Reports?

Now that you know how to get your 3 free credit reports, let’s quickly cover what type of information they actually contain:

• Identifying information – Your name, current and previous addresses, birthdate, Social Security number, and employers.

• Credit history – Details on credit accounts opened in your name, such as date opened, credit limit or loan amount, balance owed, and payment history.

• Credit inquiries – List of everyone who has accessed your credit reports recently.

• Public records – Bankruptcies, foreclosures, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and tax liens.

Checking your reports is the best way to catch any errors or suspicious activity. So be sure to review them carefully when you receive them!

How Credit Reports Are Used

Your credit reports don’t only impact your ability to get credit – they’re also used to make other important decisions, like:

• Loan applications – Lenders will check your credit reports when you apply for a mortgage, auto loan, or other types of financing.

• Rental applications – Landlords will often screen tenant applicants using credit reports.

• Employment – Some employers view credit reports as part of the hiring process.

• Insurance – Insurers may request your credit reports to help determine premiums.

So it’s very important to monitor your credit by taking advantage of your free reports each year. Don’t let an error or fraudulent activity go unnoticed and potentially damage your finances.

Let’s Summarize…

• Federal law allows you to obtain a free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion every 12 months.

• Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or mail in a request form to get your 3 free reports.

• Online is usually the fastest method. But you can also space out your requests throughout the year.

• Carefully review your reports for any inaccuracies and suspicious activity as soon as you receive them.

• Your credit reports are used for many important financial decisions, not just credit applications.

• Monitor your reports annually to catch issues early and limit the impact to your finances.

Checking your credit doesn’t need to be a hassle or expense. Take advantage of your 3 free reports each year and make it a regular habit. Your financial health depends on it!

The most accurate free credit report is the one you access through AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the official, government-mandated website where you can obtain free copies of your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.