Every citizen and legal resident of the US has the right to receive free credit reports once a year from the three main credit reporting agencies (CRAs), namely Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This is as per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). However, to obtain the free credit reports, you need to request for a copy, as it is not sent automatically to your mailbox or inbox.[br]
Ways to Obtain Free Credit Reports Online
Here are the ways in which you can get free credit reports online:
- Submitting a request form at individual websites: You can submit your request for a free credit report on the websites of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. However, this is time consuming. Moreover, you might have to sign up for a free trial offer at these sites to get your free credit report online. This offer, if not canceled within the stipulated time, might prove to be a burden on your pocket. In certain instances, you may end up paying for your free copy of the annual report unless you meet the qualifications for a free copy, based on the agency’s policies and standards.[br]
- Visiting AnnualCreditReport.com: This is the official website mandated by the federal government for obtaining free credit reports online. All the three credit bureaus come together on this website to provide you with an annual copy of your credit report on your request. At this site, you can request to obtain your free copy from all the three bureaus simultaneously. Alternatively, you can stagger your request over the year such that you can check your credit report three times a year for free.
Free Credit Report Online: What to Do Next?
When you receive your free credit report online, it is critical to check for the authenticity of the entries. This is because the three agencies might be receiving information from different creditors, resulting in incomplete credit information. Sometimes errors might creep in as a result of inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the creditors. This could hurt your creditworthiness.
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