Steps to Request Free Credit Report If Denied Credit

Your credit report is a record of all credit transactions in which you have participated within a given amount of time. This document includes positive information such as currently open credit cards, mortgage loans and lines of revolving credit, as well as negative information such as foreclosures, bankruptcies, charged-off accounts and late payments. Credit card companies, banks and other lenders use the information on your credit report to determine whether or not to give you credit. If you have been denied credit within the past 60 days, federal law entitles you to a free copy of your credit report. You can obtain this report in a few steps.

Instructions

1

Look on your credit denial letter for the consumer reporting agency's telephone number. This will be the agency that has the credit report which your prospective lender used to deny you access to credit.

2

Call the consumer reporting agency's telephone number. Click "0" to talk to a live agent.

3

Tell the customer service agent that you have been denied credit and that you request a free copy of your credit report. Give the agent your name, address, the name of the lending agency and the date of credit denial.

4

Receive your credit report. The document should arrive in the mail within a few weeks.