How To Get My Credit Report

If you want to remain financially healthy, it's important to know how to get your credit report. You should check your credit report every year to make sure there are no inaccurate items. This helps you guard against identity theft. It can also help you get the best interest rate on a major purchase, such as a car or house. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to get one free credit report a year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Follow these steps to get your credit report:

1. There are three ways to get your credit report. To get it online, visit Annualcreditreport.com. You can order it over the phone by calling 1 (877) 322-8228. Or, you can order it via postal mail by filling out the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can find that form online at www.ftc.gov/credit.
2. Have your personal information ready. To get your credit report, you must provide your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth, as well as your previous address if you have moved in the last two years. In order to keep your file security, the credit reporting agencies may ask for information that only you would know, such as the amount of your mortgage payment or the name of your car loan company.

If you order your credit report online, you will get it instantly. If you request it over the phone or in the mail, it will arrive within fifteen days.