How to get a free credit report?

[Chief Resident]

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Does anybody know the best web site or phone number to call to get a free credit report?

 

[deuist]

The FTC will give you a free credit report annually. However, and if I recall correctly, you will not get your FICO score and you will only get the results from one of the three reporting agencies.

If you want the additional information, you're going to have to purchase a report for about $25-$30. There is no such thing as a totally free credit report.

 

[tlew12778]

Q: How do I order my free report?

A: The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report. To order, click on annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.htm) and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is on the back of this brochure; or you can print it from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.

As for the score... the PP was right... it's hard to get for free. What you could do (and what I have done in the past) is sign up for one of those monitoring services like this one: http://www.freecreditreport.com/ then cancel your membership after one month. The only problem with that is that you are only getting your score from one bureau and you will probably want to see all 3.

 

[mackie]

Many credit card companies offer credit monitoring programs. There is a charge, but there is usually a 30-day trial period that's free. This is how I was able to get my credit report this year and last. The program my card company markets is Privacy Guard. They will even give you a report and scores from all three agencies! This is important because each agency doesn't always have the same information. If you do this, just don't forget to cancel before the end of your trial period. 😉

 

[lovemydrhubby]

As for the score... the PP was right... it's hard to get for free. What you could do (and what I have done in the past) is sign up for one of those monitoring services like this one: http://www.freecreditreport.com/ then cancel your membership after one month. The only problem with that is that you are only getting your score from one bureau and you will probably want to see all 3.

We've use freecreditreport.com - it's very easy. You can request 1 or all 3 of the agencies reports (but maybe just 1 at a time). I've only done one at a time. It gives you the basic report for free. The credit score... it said you could get that for 5.95. Or as the PP said, you can do a trial of the credit monitoring.

That website keeps track of when you requested each report so it will alert you by email when you are eligible to receive it again.

Also, if you are rejected from a loan, credit card, etc. you are eligible to receive the credit report at that time. You might get a free credit score if you request it after such an event.