How to Get Your Annual Credit Report

Periodically checking your credit report is a good idea. There could be old, inaccurate information that can harm your credit and should be removed. You can get a free credit report once a year, from annualcreditreport.com. This website (and it's member sites) are the only ones authorized by the government to issue free reports. Unlike other sites you will not be required to purchase a product or service, such as a credit monitoring service, when you order your report. These types of services charge monthly fees.

Instructions

1

Go to annualcreditreport.com and determine how you will order your credit report. You can order online, by mail or by phone. If you order your credit report online, you will be able to see the contents in minutes. Ordering by phone and mail will take longer for you to receive your report. This website will allow you to order a copy of your credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies, including TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. You can also order credit reports from each individual credit reporting agency member site (www.experian.com), (www.transunion.com), and (www.equifax.com).

2

Go to annualcreditreport.com and click the link for order by mail. Click on the "Request form" hyperlink. You will be able to fill out this form with all of your personal information. At the bottom of the form, check the box next to the credit reporting agency from which you would like to receive a report. You can check all three boxes if you choose. Print the form out and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. This form can be folded but you should not staple it or affix tape to it. You can order a free report, from all three agencies, 365 days from the day you last ordered your reports.

3

Wait for your information in the mail. It will take approximately 15 days to process your order, and another two or three weeks before you actually receive your credit report(s) in the mail. Sometimes you need to submit additional information if the credit reporting agency feels there is mismatching information. More information is usually needed if the information you submitted does not match what's on your credit file. You may need to send a copy of your driver's license, state ID, recent utility bill, or even a copy of a passport. Initially the form should be adequate. The credit reporting agency will inform you if additional documents are needed.