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Every year, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting companies at annualcreditreport.com. Make sure that you navigate to the correct website as there may be other websites with similar addresses, including websites for companies that charge fees to provide you with credit reports or scores.
You do not need to ask for all three reports at once. There are some benefits to spreading out your requests over the course of the year, such as being able to check your credit report for free throughout the year to see how it may change over time and keep an eye out for any errors.
As a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can request a free credit report more often than normal. Through December 2022, you could get a free credit report every week from the 3 major credit reporting agencies.
Keep in mind that the free credit report does not include a credit score.
There are 2 ways to get free annual copies of your credit report:
- Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, and fill out a form online, or
- Call 1-877-322-8228 toll free.
Be sure to avoid other web sites that say they provide free credit reports but actually charge for these reports. You should only get your free annual reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.
There are other circumstances that may allow you to get a credit report for free. For example, if you were turned down for credit based on information in a credit report, you're entitled to a free copy of that report. The lender must provide you with a notice telling you how to get the free report. If a credit score was used in that decision, you also must be given that score for free.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission's website for more information on Building a Better Credit Report.
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