The real place to get your free credit reports

by Robyn Wright on September 26, 2012

in Living

credit reportThere are so many commercials on TV, radio, and lots of online ads all stating you should go to them to check out your free credit report. While you may get your credit report through them, the actual official site is AnnualCreditReport.com I suggest you bookmark it and add some sort of note to your bookmark to remember that is the right one.

You are entitled to get a copy of your credit report from each of the three consumer credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, once every 12 months. You do not have to get them all at once either. A better idea is to spread out your request to once every 4 months. This way you get some insight multiple times each year. So you could get Experian in January, then TransUnion in May, and Equifax in September, then you start again in January. Remember also that if you are married you need to check both you and your spouse’s reports.

Sadly I have found that through the official site it actually can still be a bit confusing. Take your time and really pay attention to what you are clicking. If you are hesitant the site also gives you info on how to obtain your reports via telephone or snail mail.

If you do opt for the online method remember that you are getting your free copy. You may be presented with plenty of offers for credit monitoring and other services. You do not need to purchase these. I am not totally against credit monitoring services, but I personally do not think that the reporting agencies should be allowed to sell them – I prefer an outside service.

One thing that is not included for free is your FICO score – that is your credit rating score. If you want that you will have to pay for it. Ugh. You do not have to get this or have it though at all.

Each time you get your free copy make sure to check it over carefully and report any errors you find. You can also add a statement if there is a problem. Over 70% of all credit reports have inaccurate information on them. That is a very frustrating number for something that impacts us so much these days. But, this is exactly why I am sharing the information with you all.

When was the last time you checked your credit report?

Disclosure: None, just sharing some useful information.

© 2012, Robyn Wright. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: household, money

  • Tiffany Winner

    whenever you apply for credit you’ll get a notice saying that your eligibility was determined by checking your credit report and it will also say that you can get a copy to check it also, that’s usually when i get a copy of mine thismomwins@gmail.com

  • Shannon Whitfield

    We like to spread ours out every 4 months or so, too. We have found inaccurate info several times on our reports in the past, so we check them over very well now.. can’t be too careful. I totally believe about the 70%!

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Crazy isn’t it? That number just should not be at 70% considering that is all that the 3 agencies do.

  • tannawings

    If you apply for credit somewhere and are denied, there will always be a contact number and physical address to contact and it used to be (dont know if it still is) that you were entitled to see the credit report and know why you were denied.
    I haven’t checked our credit for maybe 10 years or more. We don’t buy many things that would require a credit check.

  • http://twitter.com/Mindyvol Mindy S

    I haven’t checked my credit report in at least one year. I have no excuse other than I don’t like the burden of going through it tooth and comb. I really will order mine soon though – thanks for the reminder!!

  • http://twitter.com/rkosully Robin

    Thanks for the reminder. I always forget to check every 4 months; I need to set up some kind of alarm/calendar reminder.

  • http://www.redneckrosie.com/ Rose

    Because of medical bills, I dread to see our credit report. I guess I’m still an “old timer” when it comes to credit reports, it’s something that appeals to me to do online and I do a lot online.

  • Jennifer Peaslee

    I’m nervous about getting a free credit report. Well one is obvious and you touched on it in your post – the possibility of non-legit places posing as legit and stealing your info. But more than that…I’m nervous to actually see my score. I have a lot of student loans and some occasional payment issues in the more distant past. I’m trying to dig myself out before I go checking on my score just yet… jenniferpeaslee at gmail dot com

  • http://twitter.com/St4ceyNicole Stacey Nicole

    Thank you for the reminder on this. I forgot all about this this year. I always try to check it at least once a year to make sure nothing shows up that I don’t know about and so I can keep track of my scores. I file them away in my filing cabinet in case I need to reference them.
    Email – Stacey.brickner6@gmail.com

  • http://twitter.com/Gods_Smile ♥Keziah Gibbons♥

    Actually, it was some years ago. I even know to get my report free once every 12 months but I keep forgetting to send for one. I love the suggestion to get one every 4 months. I will be starting in January of next year cause I am looking to purchase my first home soon. KFZeigler@hotmail.com

  • Christy Graham Brayboy

    Im way overdue for a credit report and maybe some disputing. Thanks

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