How to Get Your Credit Report for Free

How to Get Your Credit Report for Free

In the world of credit, it is very important for you to achieve a good credit score. Fortunately, you are legally entitled to at least one of each of the three major’s credit agencies per year. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the United States recommends that you check the credit reports at least once a year. The process of checking credit scores to be quick and easy to do, and is very useful both for renting an apartment, rent a car, get a loan or get a MORTGAGE.

Here is 4 steps to get free credit report :

1. Get a Credit Report 

1. Ask for reports on the internet for ease of access. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you a copy of your credit report for free once every 12 months. The easiest way to request and view reports directly on the internet is to visit the website of the third reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian —, as well as the cosponsor at AnnualCreditReport.com.

2. Fill out basic information and select institutions' giver reports you to want. AnnualCreditReport.com will ask basic questions such as name, date of birth, address, social security number, and place of residence before asking you to select an institution.

• You don't have to select the reports from all the institutions, but this may help; different institutions may have different credit information. Three reports could be more definitive than just one report. 

3. Verify your identity. Once on the website, you will be prompted to answer the five basic questions about finances and address previously, before you have access to your report. This is a protection against identity fraud.

4. Your credit report Paraphrased. After receiving the credit reports, scroll down and see the key rating given by a credit institution. This key has a wide range of icons that describe the meaning. An excellent credit report will have many or all signs inscribed with "current” or "OK". A bad credit report will have an icon of late, the Bills, fines, or confiscation, ownership, which indicates payment history, is not healthy.

• If you are looking for a credit score, it is quite easy to start the process on a credit report page; however, this process usually is not free. A credit score is typically obtained by way of pay; a third party site that aims to provide free credit scores often use bait and tactics so you pay later. 
• So what is the difference between credit reports and credit scores? One of the websites explains it like this: "If likened to a paper credit, your credit score is your value to the paper and a credit report is a record of the professors writes about how well your performance on the back. 

5. Navigate back to AnnualCreditReport.com and view your credit report. AnnualCreditReport.com makes it easy for you to switch between a credit reports with a report to another. Take a look at each report in your spare time and print as you note.

2. Other helpful information about credit reports 

1. Ask for credit reports in a manner other than the internet. If you are not the type of internet users, there are two other ways to get a free annual credit report.

• Over the phone. To request to have it sent to you over the phone, call 1-877-322-8228 and ask for a copy of your report from each of the three reporting agencies. You will go through a simple verification process over the phone, and receive a copy of your report within 2 to 3 weeks. 
• Through the mail. To request reports by mail, you must complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form on the Form, and then submit the Request thread to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You are expected to receive a copy of the report about two to three weeks from the date your request is received by AnnualCreditReport.com. 

2. Message backs a credit report if necessary. If you have been getting your free report under the FCRA amendments 2003, determine whether you are entitled to a free credit report of the other. The FCRA also provides for certain situations in which the consumer is entitled to a free credit report, regardless of when they get their free reports. Some situations that can give you a free report include:

• Credit, insurance, or employment petition was rejected because of the information on a credit report. A company, insurance, or the bank will send you a notice covering the reporting agency contact information are available for use. You have 60 days from the date you studied refusal to call the Agency and ask for a copy of your credit report. 
• You are unemployed and plan to start looking for a job in 60 days ahead. 
• You receive welfare aid to the Government. 
• You are a victim of identity theft and fraud is convinced there is inaccurate information placed on a credit report. 
• The State legislation also gives you the right to get a free credit report every 12 months. List of States that have laws to give the right on its citizens for additional free reports can be found on the website of the institution of a centralized reporting at www.annualcreditreport.com. 

3. If you are entitled to a free credit report for any reason, please ask from each of these three institutions reporting. Each institution has different procedures to provide the report.

• Equifax: ask for a report by contacting: 800-685-1111 or writes to Equifax Disclosure Department, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374. When writing, be sure to include your name, social security number, current and previous addresses, date of birth, and phone number. For your protection, you must also verify your identity by providing copies of certain documents.For a list of acceptable documents, see pages Acceptable Forms of Identification Equifax. 
• Experian: ask the report by calling 866-200-6020 or visit their website. 
• TransUnion: ask the reports by calling 800-888-4213, writing to TransUnion LLC, 2 Baldwin Place, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022, or visit their website. When writing, be sure to include your name, social security number, current and previous addresses, date of birth, and phone number. 

4. Check your credit report from all three agencies each year. If one of the agencies get wrong information from your credit company or simply made a mistake, the Agency will pay to fix this problem quickly. A mistake that is left on your credit report will still be a mistake if you don't ask for reports every year, and leave the low credit score without you know the cause and there is no reason.

• Printed and filed your credit report. Keep a copy of the physical may be an old habit, but it's also a smart way. Save a copy of your credit report will be useful if you want to see when you first start using credit, for example when show proof when in dispute with a company or credit institution itself.