How Can I Get a Free Credit Check to See If I Qualify for a Phone?

Most major wireless and landline telephone providers will review your credit report to decide if you qualify for service. Having a credit report with negative information such as late payments, charge-offs, delinquent accounts or collections may cause the company to request a deposit or deny you service altogether. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can check your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- free once a year through Annual Credit Report. You can order your reports by phone, mail or online.

Instructions

How to Order a Credit Report by Phone

1

Call Annual Credit Report.

2

Provide the customer service representative with your identity information, including name, Social Security number and your mother's maiden name.

3

Give the customer service representative an address where he can send your credit reports.

How to Order a Credit Report by Mail

4

Visit the Annual Credit Report website and click the hyperlink for "Request form."

5

Print out the request form and complete all the required information.

6

Mail the request form to Annual Credit Report. You will receive a hard copy of the credit reports in the mail within two to three weeks.

How to Order a Credit Report Online

7

Visit the Annual Credit Report website.

8

Select your state from the scroll-down menu and click the "Request report" icon.

9

Enter your personal information in the text boxes, including name, date of birth, Social Security number and address.

10

Type the characters you see in the captcha in the text box and click the "Continue" icon.

11

Click the check mark next to the credit reports you wish to view. You can select your credit report from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.