With identity theft all too common today, it’s a good idea to be more proactive to protect your personal information. Reviewing your credit report at least annually is a good idea – and it’s free!
Federal law requires each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies – Experian, TransUnion and Equifax – to provide you with a free credit report every 12 months. All you have to do is ask.
How to request your free report
- Go to https://www.annualcreditreport.com and file an online request; or
- Call 1-877-322-8228 to have a report mailed within 15 days.
You may request your free credit report from all three companies at one time or stagger your requests by contacting each company at different times throughout a 12-month period.
What’s in a credit report?
- A list of businesses that extended you credit or loans;
- Loan amounts and credit limits;
- On-time payments and the amount paid;
- Missed or late payments;
- Bad debts;
- Businesses that obtained your credit report; and
- Personal information, including current and former names, addresses and employers, and bankruptcies.
What to do about errors?
If you find any discrepancies on your credit report, you should contact the credit reporting company immediately.
Be aware that the only legitimate website for obtaining your free annual credit report is https://www.annualcreditreport.com. Take a few minutes to fight fraud, protect your identity and your good name.