Everyone in America is entitled to 1 free credit report from each of the 3 consumer reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) every year according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA.) These reports aren’t generated automatically which means if you want it, you have to request it. There are 3 ways this can be done.

Online – Although there are a plethora of ‘free credit report’ offers on line, there is only 1 government authorized website for getting your free credit report. It is www.annualcreditreport.com. Be careful to use the correct website address as there are some unethical companies out there that try to take advantage of the possible misspellings. If you go to one of these sites chances are you’ll end up pay monthly recurring fees for a membership that you didn’t want. Your credit report results are delivered immediately online.

By Phone – If you aren’t Internet-savvy, or just don’t want to deal with the hassle, you can call (877) 322.8228 to get your free credit report. You report will be processed and mailed within 15 days.

By Mail – This is the slowest way to go, but if it makes you feel easier you can mail your request to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
You report will be processed and mailed within 15 days of the company receiving your request.

It’s up to you if you want to order all 3 reports at once or space them out. Keep in mind if you space the requests out you’ll be able to monitor your credit reports more often, say every 4 months, which is a better idea.

When you submit your request you will be asked to provide a variety of information. Having the following on-hand will make your process much smoother.
• Name
• Address
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Previous address (if you’ve lived at your current residence less than 2 years)

There are other circumstances in which you may be eligible for an additional free credit report. These include being denied credit, an insurance policy or a job based on credit. If this happens you must submit your request within 60 days. You are also eligible if you are applying for unemployment or receiving public assistance. Additionally Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont have state laws that give consumers constant free access to their credit reports.

If you are concerned about requesting your free credit report because you are worried about the companies discouraging you or trying to collect more personal information, fear not. The FTC has laws requiring that the agencies make the request process simple, advertisement-free and as minimally intrusive as possible. Also, the agencies cannot ask for any information beyond what is necessary to process your request. So, go ahead and order your credit report. It’s free, easy and a good idea to see what it contains, especially in today’s world of identity theft.