Bev O'Shea is a former NerdWallet authority on consumer credit, scams and identity theft. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Auburn University and a master's in education from Georgia State University. Before coming to NerdWallet, she worked for daily newspapers, MSN Money and Credit.com. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, MarketWatch, USA Today, MSN Money and elsewhere. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea.
Lead Assigning Editor Kathy Hinson
Lead Assigning Editor | Personal finance, credit scoring, debt and money management
Kathy Hinson is a former Lead Assigning Editor for the Core Personal Finance team at NerdWallet. Previously, she spent 18 years at The Oregonian in Portland in roles including copy desk chief and team leader for design and editing. Prior experience includes news and copy editing for several Southern California newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Iowa.
Fact Checked Co-written by Amanda Barroso Lead Writer Amanda Barroso
Lead Writer | Credit scoring, budgeting, personal finance
Amanda Barroso is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2021, covering credit scoring. She has also written data studies and contributed to NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast. Before joining the team, Amanda spent more than a decade covering issues facing many Americans, which includes her work as a writer at the Pew Research Center, a policy analyst at the National Women's Law Center and a college professor. Amanda earned a doctorate from The Ohio State University.
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MORE LIKE THIS The Ultimate Credit Score Guide Making Money Paying Your Bills Personal Finance MORE LIKE THIS The Ultimate Credit Score Guide Making Money Paying Your Bills Personal FinanceFederal law gives you free access to your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Using the government-mandated AnnualCreditReport.com website is the quickest way to get them, but you can also request them by phone or mail. Those reports — which previously had been limited to once a year — are permanently available weekly to help consumers manage their finances.
Your credit reports are a detailed record of your past use of credit — but they do not include your credit score. NerdWallet offers a free credit score and report , updated weekly using TransUnion data. Checking your score does not damage your credit.
Here’s how to use AnnualCreditReport.com.
First, make sure you’re on the right site: AnnualCreditReport.com . Some other sites have similar-sounding names.
The one you want looks like this:
You'll need your name, Social Security number, address and birthdate. This, along with other personal data, will be matched against files for identification.
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You can order your reports from one, two or all three of the major credit bureaus : Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
For each report request, you’ll be asked a few questions about your finances that presumably only you can answer — for instance, the approximate amount of your mortgage payment or who holds your auto loan and when you took it out.
Some consumers have reported difficulty using the site, particularly answering security questions about accounts that are several years old. If you can’t recall those details, you can request your reports by mail or phone; this process doesn’t require security questions.
You can save reports to your desktop or print them out so you’ll have access later.
If you need to request a report or reports by mail, send a request form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Your report or reports should be sent within 15 business days.
You can also get your credit reports by calling 877-322-8228. Visually impaired consumers can also call this number to request audio, large-print or Braille reports.
Negative information that’s too old to be included. Most negative information, other than one type of bankruptcy, should be excluded after seven years.
These errors have the potential to hurt your credit score, says Chi Chi Wu, a senior attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. You might see other types of errors, such as out-of-date employment information, she says, but those aren’t factored into your score.
If you find errors, dispute them. Typically, the fastest way to file a dispute is online, but you can also call the credit bureaus or send a credit dispute letter by mail . The credit bureaus will investigate and must remove information that they can’t verify.
You can request your credit report in Spanish directly from each of the three major credit bureaus: · TransUnion : Call 800-916-8800. · Equifax : Visit the link or call 888-378-4329. · Experian : Click on the link or call 888-397-3742.
🤓 Consejo Nerdy Usted puede solicitar una copia de su informe crediticio (gratis y en español) de cada una de las tres principales agencias de crédito: · TransUnion : Llame al 800-916-8800. · Equifax : Visite el enlace o llame al 888-378-4329. · Experian : Haga clic en el enlace o llame al 888-397-3742.
Monitoring your scores and reports can tip you off to problems such as an overlooked payment or identity theft. It also lets you track progress on building your credit. NerdWallet offers both a free credit report summary and a free credit score, updated weekly.
Here’s how the information you’ll get from AnnualCreditReport.com differs from what free personal finance sites may provide:
Reports (not scores) Data from all three major credit bureaus An extensive history of your credit usePersonal finance websites, including NerdWallet, provide:
Credit scores, sometimes credit report information Unlimited access Data from one or two credit bureaus A recent history of your credit use Additional information about building and protecting your credit Frequently asked questions Is AnnualCreditReport.com safe?AnnualCreditReport.com is authorized by federal law and safe to use — as long as you ensure you're on the correct site.
Double-check the URL when you type it, to be sure you have not made a typo. Some other sites have similar-sounding names, so check that the URL matches and the site looks as expected.
Be aware that your credit reports are free, but credit bureaus also use the AnnualCreditReport.com site to sell credit scores and promote paid services, such as credit monitoring . However, monitoring doesn’t keep your identity from being stolen; it just alerts you after the fact. For best protection, use a credit freeze .
“Just get your free credit report. Don’t get suckered by the upsell,” says Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program senior director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
What do I get when I request reports?Your creditors regularly report your account information, including payments, credit applications, the percentage of available credit you’re using and negative marks such as collections. The three bureaus build that data into the credit reports that you get from AnnualCreditReport.com.
A credit report is not the same thing as a credit score . Your credit score is derived from some of the information in your credit reports.
If you used the online portal to access your reports, we suggest saving them as PDFs or printing them out. Once you have them, read over them for mistakes.
When should I get my reports from AnnualCreditReport.com?Get all three credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com if you’ve never done so or it’s been at least a year since the last time.
It's also wise to check them if you've received payment modifications or other relief, such as offered during the pandemic, and need to see whether creditors are reporting those accounts correctly.
And if you’re about to apply for a large loan, such as a mortgage, you should get and check your credit reports. That gives you a chance to fix score-lowering problems before applying, giving you a better shot at approval.
Is AnnualCreditReport.com safe?is authorized by federal law and safe to use — as long as you ensure you're on the correct site.
Double-check the URL when you type it, to be sure you have not made a typo. Some other sites have similar-sounding names, so check that the URL matches and the site looks as expected.
Be aware that your credit reports are free, but credit bureaus also use the AnnualCreditReport.com site to sell credit scores and promote paid services, such as
. However, monitoring doesn’t keep your identity from being stolen; it just alerts you after the fact. For best protection, use a
“Just get your free credit report. Don’t get suckered by the upsell,” says Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program senior director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
What do I get when I request reports?Your creditors regularly report your account information, including payments, credit applications, the percentage of available credit you’re using and negative marks such as collections. The three bureaus build that data into the credit reports that you get from AnnualCreditReport.com.
A credit report is not the same thing as a
. Your credit score is derived from some of the information in your credit reports.
If you used the online portal to access your reports, we suggest saving them as PDFs or printing them out. Once you have them,
over them for mistakes.
When should I get my reports from AnnualCreditReport.com?Get all three credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com if you’ve never done so or it’s been at least a year since the last time.
It's also wise to check them if you've received payment modifications or other relief, such as offered during the pandemic, and need to see whether creditors are reporting those accounts correctly.
And if you’re about to apply for a large loan, such as a mortgage, you should get and check your credit reports. That gives you a chance to fix score-lowering problems before applying, giving you a better shot at approval.
About the authorsYou’re following Bev O'Shea
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Bev O'Shea is a freelance writer and a former NerdWallet staff member who specializes in consumer credit, scams and identity theft. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, MarketWatch and elsewhere. See full bio.
You’re following Amanda Barroso
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Amanda covers consumer credit and debt at NerdWallet. She previously worked at the Pew Research Center and earned a doctorate at The Ohio State University. See full bio.
On a similar note.
How Long Do Derogatory Marks Stay on Your Credit? How to Read a Credit Report Credit Score vs. Credit Report: What’s the Difference? The 3 Credit Bureaus, and Why They Matter to You MORE LIKE THIS The Ultimate Credit Score Guide Making Money Paying Your Bills Personal FinanceMissed payments, collections and other derogatory marks can stay on your credit reports for seven years or more.
Dispute credit report errors to get mistakes or outdated information off your credit history, which can help your score.
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Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product's site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution's Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly.
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