Free Credit Report FAQs

Is There A Catch?

There are no catches to free credit reports as long as you get them through the official source set up under FACTA's mandate, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The three credit bureaus may not ask you for credit card numbers or other payment information or require you to buy anything or to sign up for trial memberships to get your reports. They sometimes offer paid services, like credit record monitoring, when you place your free order, but they cannot force you to accept.

Who Provides The Reports?

Your free credit reports are provided directly by Equifax, TransUnion and Experian, even though you must get them through AnnualCreditReport.com. You get the same information you receive if you order and pay for reports through the credit bureau websites.

How Often Can I Get Free Credit Reports?

FACTA requires Equifax, TransUnion and Experian to give you free credit reports every year. You must remember to order them through AnnualCreditReport.com annually as the process is not automatic. You may request all three together or spread out the orders, as recommended by the California Office of Privacy Protection, to monitor the reports more effectively for signs of identity theft and criminal activity such as accounts you did not open or inquiries you did not originate. For example, you can request a single report every four months.

Do I Have to Order Online?

The AnnualCreditReport.com website provides instant credit report access for orders placed through its website, but it offers alternatives that take more time for people who do not wish to get their reports via the Internet. AnnualCreditReport.com provides a postal address and toll-free telephone number so you can call or mail in your order. There is no cost for these alternate methods, but it takes longer to get your reports since you receive paper copies rather than online access.

Am I Entitled to Free Report Under Other Circumstances?

You are legally entitled to free credit reports after any of your credit applications are rejected or if you add fraud alerts to your Experian, TransUnion and Equifax bureau files. Lenders and other businesses that turn you down after reviewing one of your reports have to tell you which credit bureau was used and give you instructions for getting a report copy. The bureaus provide fraud-related reports automatically. Reports issued under any of these circumstances are not part of your regular yearly allotment.