 Obtaining Your Credit Report for Free
Thanks to a recent Federal Trade Commission ruling, over the next nine months all Americans will be able to get annual copies of their credit report for free. So what is a credit report and why does it matter to obtain a copy of yours?
What is a credit report?
A credit report is simply a record of your credit habits - it shows every time you apply for credit, every time someone makes an inquiry about your credit record, and how you manage your credit. For example, it records whether or not you pay your bills on time, if you maintain a balance or pay your bills in full, if you pay late fees, and if you have ever filed for bankruptcy. Click here to read our "Why Should I Care About Credit?" article to learn more about why your credit habits matter and how you can begin to establish, or repair, your credit history.
How does the recent legislation affect me?
In the past, people have had to pay one of the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, TransUnion and Experian - to obtain a copy of their credit report. Now, under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, all Americans will be able to get a free credit report every year. The ruling means that the three bureaus will have to provide one free copy of a personal credit report to anyone who requests one.
The ruling took effect on December 1, 2004 with free credit reports first being made available to people in the Western part of the United States; specifically residents of:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Oregon
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
As of June 1, 2005 residents of the following states can get their annual credit reports for free:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
The free reports will be phased in to cover all U.S. residents by September 1, 2005.
How can I get a copy of my credit report for free?
There are three ways you can request a free copy of your credit report:
- Visit www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the only website authorized to provide you with your free annual credit report. You can also download a copy of the "Annual Credit Report Request" brochure from the site and complete the form to mail in.
- Call the toll-free number 1-877-322-8228 to request your free copy.
- Mail a written request to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
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