How To Get A Free Copy Of Credit Report

Credit reports contain information about individuals, including their address, how they make bill payments, if they have been declared bankrupt. Reporting companies compile this information, and then sell it to businesses. Potential employers, lending institutions and insurance companies use this information when evaluating the credit risk of an individual.

Once a year, you are able to request a copy of your report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies, and they are legally obliged to provide it to you free of charge. If you wish to get more than one copy a year, then you will have to pay a fee, the amount of which is up to the discretion of the company.

How Can I Order My Free Credit Report?

There is only one website that you can order your free credit reports from the three major companies. You can either order the reports one at a time, or all at the once. It is up to you. Every other website is not part of the legally mandated program, and may come with hooks. Some have been reported to start charging after the first free report is accessed, and unless you unsubscribe to the service they continue to charge money from your credit card. Some of these websites intentionally misspell professional websites, hoping to pick up customers who misspell the URL.

Some of these sites collect your personal information, and some use the words “free report” to try and fool people into using their service. When ordering your free report, make sure it is from the correct legally mandated website. If you get a personal phone call from someone, or see a pop-up advertisement, or receive an email, then you have probably happened onto an imposter website. Do not answer personal questions about yourself, or click on the links.

What Information Will I Have To Provide?

The only information you will be asked to provide to get your credit report from the official website is your name, address, date of birth and social security number. You may have to provide the address of your previous residence if you have recently moved. Apart from this, each company has the right to ask you to confirm some details that they have that only you would know, such as the amount you pay on a certain loan arrangement. This is only for them to confirm your identity, and they will never ask you for your credit card details.