The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the nationwide credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The report includes information about where you live, your bill payment history, and whether you have been sued or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell this information to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or buying or renting a home.
Contacting the Credit Reporting Companies
There is a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or download the Annual Credit Report Request Form from the website and mail it to the address provided. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 months. Ordering a report from a different agency every four months helps to ensure the accuracy of the information in your report.
Provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, include your previous address. To maintain the security of your file, the credit reporting company may ask you for information that only you would know. Your report will be processed and normally mailed to you within 15 days.
Beware of Imposter Websites
Only annualcreditreport.com is authorized to give the free annual credit report you are entitled to under the law. Other websites that claim to offer “free credit reports” and “free credit services” are often not legitimate. Services are not free and are automatically charged to a credit card after a trial period. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from annualcreditreport.com or the three nationwide credit reporting companies, do not reply, click on any link, or give personal information. It is probably a scam. Forward any such email to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at [email protected].
Correcting Inaccurate or Incomplete Information
Write the credit reporting company, list the name of the company, and the information that is inaccurate. After the company receives notice of a dispute, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the credit reporting company. If the company finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide credit reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.
When the investigation is complete, the credit reporting company must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. This free investigation report does not count as your annual free report. If an item is changed or deleted, the credit reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the company verifies that it is accurate.
The FTC works to protect consumers by preventing fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace, and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint, visit reportfraud.ftc.gov or call (1-877-382-4357).
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