Everyone always seems to be looking for a free credit report, but with so many websites out there claiming to be the official free credit reporting company, it can get confusing.
The bottom-line is that there is only one official, government sponsored free credit reporting service available, available at Annualcreditreport.com.
*Keep in mind that this free credit report does not contain a credit score, just your credit history.
Select your state, and then click “request report”. You must then fill out a basic form with your personal information including your social security number.
After you complete that form you will have the option of selecting one, two, or all three of the credit reporting bureaus.
You can order a credit report for all 3 credit reporting bureaus, including:
- Equifax
- Experian
It’s important to order a credit report for each bureau, as they report differently, and some important information may show up on only one of the three bureau’s reports.
The site suggests that you space out your reports throughout the year, ordering one every 4 months or so to see if anything changes, while still being eligible to receive the report for free. While this is one method, if you plan on getting a mortgage or financing a car or other expensive item, it’d be wise to get all three bureaus reports at the same time to cross-analyze the data.
Keep in mind that the 3 major credit bureaus also run their own free credit report offers, and are legitimate ways to obtain a credit report. But these services aren’t free, and at best offer a free trial. They do have advantages over the government credit report service, with credit clean-up tools that allow you to dispute derogatory items or collections that may have appeared on your credit report in error.
However you obtain a credit report is of little importance. It’s what you do with it that matters. Learn how to read a credit report. And what you can do to improve your credit score.
