To get a credit report, request it free from AnnualCreditReport.com, the only website federally authorized to deliver your reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports You can also request the same reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by mailing a request form.2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy All three methods are free and require basic identity verification before a bureau releases your file.
Request Online
The fastest route is AnnualCreditReport.com. Pick your state, choose which bureau’s report you want, and pull one, two, or all three at once. After you pass the identity check, the report loads on screen within minutes and can be saved as a PDF.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports Note the confirmation number at the end in case anything goes wrong on the technical side.
Plenty of other websites advertise free credit reports. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only one authorized by federal law to provide them under this program.2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy
Request by Phone
Call 877-322-8228 and follow the automated voice prompts and keypad entries to place your request.2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy You do not need internet access for this option. Reports ordered by phone come as paper copies in the mail rather than on screen.
Request by Mail
Download and print the Annual Credit Report Request Form from AnnualCreditReport.com, fill it in, and send it to:3Annual Credit Report.com. Annual Credit Report Request Form
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Fold the form into a standard #10 envelope. Do not staple or tape it. Federal law requires the bureaus to process and send a mailed or phoned-in request within 15 days of receiving it, then add ordinary postal delivery on top of that.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
What You Need to Have Ready
Every request asks for your name, current address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the past two years, have your previous address ready too, since bureau records may still be tied to it.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
After the basics, the system asks security questions built from information already in your credit file. Expect details that would not appear on a standard ID, like the monthly payment on an old car loan or the name of your mortgage lender.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports Answering correctly is the main safeguard keeping someone else from pulling your file, so a general memory of your past accounts helps.
If the Identity Check Fails
Missing the online security questions does not lock you out. You can try the phone line instead, or switch to a written request by mail with copies of identifying documents. Bureaus typically accept a driver’s license or state ID, a Social Security card, a recent utility bill showing your address, or a pay stub. Each bureau uses its own mailing address for these submissions and posts its own document requirements on its website. Some also let you upload documents online. Once the bureau reviews your paperwork, it mails your report to the address on file.
How Often You Can Pull a Report
Federal law guarantees one free report from each of the three nationwide bureaus every 12 months.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures In practice, the bureaus now let you pull a report from each of them every week at no cost through AnnualCreditReport.com, and Equifax adds six more free reports per year through 2026 through the same site.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
Certain situations also trigger a free report outside that schedule:
- You were denied credit, insurance, or employment based on your file. Request within 60 days of the denial notice.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
- You are unemployed and plan to look for work within the next 60 days, certified in writing.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
- You receive public welfare benefits.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
- You suspect fraud in your file or have placed a fraud alert on it.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
A security freeze on your file does not block you from getting your own report. A freeze stops new creditors from pulling your file; it leaves your own access alone.5Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Is a Credit Freeze or Security Freeze on My Credit Report
Your Report Does Not Include Your Credit Score
The free report shows the data in your file: accounts, balances, payment history, inquiries, and public records. It does not include a credit score. The score is a separate number calculated from that data, and bureaus are not required to provide it free under this program. Many credit card issuers and banks show a score inside their apps or on statements, and you can buy your score directly from each bureau.
What to Do With the Report Once You Have It
Read it closely. If you spot a payment marked late that you paid on time, an account you never opened, or a wrong balance, you can dispute it directly with the bureau that issued the report. Most bureaus take disputes online, by phone, or by mail.
After receiving your dispute, the bureau has to investigate and resolve it within 30 days. Sending additional supporting information during that window can extend the investigation by up to 15 more days.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681i – Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy The bureau must notify you of the results within five business days of finishing its investigation, and it must correct or remove anything found to be inaccurate.
Reports Beyond the Three Major Bureaus
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are not the only companies keeping files on you. Specialty consumer reporting agencies track information tied to specific industries, including banking history, rental history, insurance claims, and employment background.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Are Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies and What Types of Information Do They Collect ChexSystems, for example, tracks banking behavior like bounced checks and overdrafts, and it is often the reason a bank denies a checking account application. You can get a free ChexSystems report through its consumer portal, by calling 800-428-9623, or by mail with copies of your ID, Social Security card, and proof of address.8ChexSystems. Consumer Disclosure The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes a broader list if you need to reach files beyond the big three.