| Want a Free Annual Credit Report? | | | | the time. Apparently they do not like written requests |
| The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the | | | | or mailing full reports because (obviously) it is more |
| "Big Three" nationwide consumer credit reporting | | | | labor intensive and expensive to send a printed copy |
| companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to | | | | via snail mail. But many people like to have a "hard |
| provide you with a free copy of your credit report | | | | copy" directly from the credit bureaus in their hands. |
| every 12 months. Prior to the Fair Credit Reporting Act | | | | Before you use any of the addresses below please |
| a credit report could set you back nearly $10 each. | | | | double check on the official websites (also below) to |
| A credit report will include information on where you | | | | confirm the mailing address. There are often several |
| live and have lived in the past, how you pay your bills | | | | mailing addresses listed for different departments or |
| and whether you've been sued or arrested. It may list | | | | services so be sure you are sending your request to |
| your current or past employers. It will also show if you | | | | the correct address to request a free copy of your |
| have filed for bankruptcy. Equifax, Experian and | | | | annual credit report. Remember, regardless of how |
| TransUnion, along with other agencies, make a profit | | | | you request your credit report the same |
| by selling the information in your report to creditors, | | | | once-every-12-month rule applies. |
| insurers, employers, and other companies who will use | | | | It's a good idea to include the following information |
| it to appraise your for credit to make a major | | | | when you request a free copy of your annual credit |
| purchase, buy insurance, get a job or rent a house or | | | | report with the three with the three major credit |
| apartment. | | | | bureaus. Don't forget to SIGN YOUR REQUEST. In |
| If you do a search under "free credit reports" you will | | | | your letter you should provide: |
| get hundreds of results from companies who would | | | | * Your full name |
| love to sell you a credit report or ongoing credit | | | | * Your date of birth |
| monitoring. These sites are impostors whose real | | | | * Your Social Security number |
| scheme is to snag people who may think they are | | | | * Your current address AND any former address |
| looking at the official site for free credit reports. In fact, | | | | addresses when you have lived for the previous 5 |
| many of these sneaky sites are actually operated by | | | | years |
| Experian, Equifax and TransUnion themselves so that | | | | * A photocopy of your driving license, showing current |
| they can charge you for the same thing you are | | | | address (or other government-issued proof of identity |
| entitled to get for free. | | | | such as a passport) |
| While there may be times that you need to buy a | | | | * Your Social Security numbers and/or a photocopy of |
| report or it may be appropriate to use credit monitoring | | | | your Social Security card |
| services, most of us just need to take a look at our | | | | * You may want to also include a current utility bill |
| credit report once a year to ensure there are not | | | | containing your current address if you have not been |
| inaccuracies. | | | | there long. |
| If you do get your free credit report under the Fair | | | | The addresses for the three major credit reporting |
| Credit Reporting Act this year it's important to note | | | | agencies are listed below: |
| that the reports will not be sent automatically next | | | | Equifax |
| year. You'll need to make a new request each year | | | | P.O. Box 740256 |
| that you wish to receive a new one. | | | | Atlanta, Georgia Experian |
| There are a few exceptions to the 12 month rule. | | | | P.O. Box 9554 |
| Under the law you're entitled to receive a free report if | | | | Allen, Texas TransUnion |
| you are turned down for a loan, job, insurance, etc. | | | | P.O. Box 6790 |
| because of your credit. In that case you can ask for | | | | Fullerton, CA Once you get your report you will need |
| your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the | | | | to carefully review it for inaccuracies. If you ordered |
| action. All companies have to inform you if they will be | | | | your reports online at annualcreditreport.com, you'll find |
| checking your credit and often you can request a | | | | that all three credit bureaus offer some form online |
| copy of whatever they receive simply by checking the | | | | dispute resolution. This is a good place to start, but can |
| appropriate box on the application. You can also get a | | | | be limiting and may not resolve all of your problems. |
| free report if you reside in one of the states that | | | | If you want to call and dispute errors on your report |
| already offers free credit reports from each | | | | each of the three agencies use the number below for |
| credit-reporting agency (Colorado, Georgia, Maine, | | | | the corresponding agency. |
| Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont) | | | | * Equifax: (800) 685-1111 (Online Dispute Resolution) |
| or you're applying for unemployment or receive public | | | | * Experian: (888) 397-3742 (Online Dispute Resolution) |
| assistance. | | | | * TransUnion: (800) 888-4213 (Online Dispute |
| Here's how to request your copy of your credit report. | | | | Resolution) |
| Online: | | | | The best way to fix an error on your credit report |
| The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established | | | | may be by mail. While not as convenient as online |
| a website (annualcreditreport.com) to order your free | | | | dispute resolution, a dispute letter gives you the |
| annual credit report online. This is the one and only | | | | opportunity to spell out in detail what the error is and |
| authorized website to get your free credit report under | | | | how it may have occurred. The agency has a legal |
| the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This | | | | obligation to thoroughly check the details of your |
| website is legitimate and is absolutely free. If you are | | | | dispute letter and report their findings back to you. |
| on a website and it asked for a credit card you are | | | | Before you send a letter you may want to call the |
| either in the wrong place or you are paying for | | | | credit bureaus to verify what you need to do for your |
| additional services offered by one of the three credit | | | | specific case and what information you may need to |
| reporting agencies. is a great resource if you only need | | | | send with your letter. |
| a copy of your credit report every 12 months. | | | | Typical items you may need to include are: |
| Go to: | | | | * A copy of your driver's license or state ID card |
| By Phone: | | | | * A copy of your Social Security card |
| Call 1-877-322-8228 | | | | * The name of the creditor or collection agency in |
| By Completing an Annual Credit Report Request Form | | | | question |
| This form is available online at ftc.gov/credit. Once you | | | | * The associated account number in question |
| complete the annual credit report request form you will | | | | * A full, written description of why you're disputing it |
| mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. | | | | * Any written proof you may have that will support |
| Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. | | | | your case |
| By Contact the Agencies Directly: | | | | There are many examples of sample dispute letters |
| While the FTC does not recommend you request your | | | | online. |
| report directly from each individual agency, it is possible | | | | Finally, you should note that while you will get a credit |
| to do so. | | | | report, you will not get a credit score (or a FICO |
| First of all, fair warning, the credit bureaus change their | | | | score). You can roughly estimate your actual credit |
| mailing addresses to request a credit report by mail all | | | | score by using a free credit score estimator. |