Reputable Places to Get a Credit Report

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers free access to credit reports from the three major bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- each year. Consumers can receive their reports once a year. In addition, they can also choose to purchase their scores directly from the bureaus. While a variety of companies claim to offer free credit reports, there are four places online that provide consumers with a legitimate and reputable place to obtain a credit report.

Annual Credit Report

Annual Credit Report is the only source authorized by the Federal Trade Commission as a provider of credit reports. In addition to the online service, consumers also have the ability to request copies of their credit reports via phone or mail. Consumers will receive a copy of their report from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Experian

Experian offers consumers the opportunity to purchase their credit report straight from the bureau. In addition to providing credit reports, Experian also offers credit education programs to help consumers manage credit and protect against fraud. After viewing a report, consumers can also dispute inaccurate information online. Experian also offers identity theft protection services and credit monitoring, providing customers with daily monitoring services of all three credit bureaus. If a change is detected in a credit report, the user is notified via email. As of 2010, a credit report can be purchased directly from Experian for $10.

TransUnion

TransUnion offers not only the opportunity to purchase a credit report, but also the opportunity to see the six factors that are used to determine your credit score. The company also offers identity theft protection services and tells users what their level of risk is. Online disputing is available for those with inaccurate information on their reports. Consumers may also take advantage of TransUnion's credit monitoring services that allow consumers to monitor their reports across all three bureaus. As of 2010, TransUnion services cost $14.95 a month after the free trial program.

Equifax

Equifax offers consumers the ability to view and monitor all three of their credit scores on a monthly basis through the Equifax Complete program. Users will receive all three reports once a month, along with unlimited access to their Equifax report. Credit monitoring services are also available across all three bureaus as well as identity theft protection. Equifax also offers an interactive score estimator to help consumers find the best ways to increase their scores. Individuals may also dispute incorrect information online. As of 2010, Equifax services are available for $14.95 a month. Equifax credit reports can be purchased separately for $10.50.