Best way to get free credit report

Your credit reports matter.

• Credit reports may affect your mortgage rates, credit card approvals, apartment requests, or even your job application.
• Reviewing credit reports helps you catch signs of identity theft early.

Request your free credit reports

FREE Credit Reports. Federal law allows you to:

• Get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company.
• Ensure that the information on all of your credit reports is correct and up to date.

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How Can I Check Credit Scores?

Credit scores are how financial institutions assess your credit risk. Even though credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus don’t usually contain credit scores, there are other ways to check your score. [Duration - 1:01]

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Highlights:

• Credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus do not usually contain credit scores

• You may be able to get a credit score from your credit card company, financial institution or loan statement

• You can also use a credit score service or free credit scoring site

Many people think if you check your credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus, you’ll see credit scores as well. But that’s not the case: credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus do not usually contain credit scores. Before we talk about where you can get credit scores, there are a few things to know about credit scores, themselves.

One of the first things to know is that you don’t have only one credit score. Credit scores are designed to represent your credit risk, or the likelihood you will pay your bills on time. Credit scores are calculated based on a method using the content of your credit reports.

Score providers, such as the three nationwide credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion -- and companies like FICO use different types of credit scoring models and may use different information to calculate credit scores. Credit scores provided by the three nationwide credit bureaus will also vary because some lenders may report information to all three, two or one, or none at all.  And lenders and creditors may use additional information, other than credit scores, to decide whether to grant you credit. 

So how can you get credit scores? Here are a few ways:

• Check your credit card, financial institution or loan statement. Many credit card companies, banks and loan companies have started providing credit scores for their customers. It may be on your statement, or you can access it online by logging into your account.
• Purchase credit scores directly from one of the three major credit bureaus or other provider, such as FICO.
• Use a credit score service or free credit scoring site. Some sites provide a free credit score to users. Others may provide credit scores to credit monitoring customers paying a monthly subscription fee.

In addition to checking your credit scores, it’s a good idea to regularly check your credit reports to ensure that the information is accurate and complete.

You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit reports every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also create a myEquifax account to get six free Equifax credit reports each year.  In addition, you can click “Get my free credit score” on your myEquifax dashboard to enroll in Equifax Core Credit™ for a free monthly Equifax credit report and a free monthly VantageScore® 3.0 credit score, based on Equifax data. A VantageScore is one of many types of credit scores.

If you find information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete on your credit reports, contact the lender or creditor. You can also file a dispute with the credit bureau that provided the report. At Equifax, you can create a myEquifax account to file a dispute. Visit our dispute page to learn other ways you can submit a dispute.

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Article Highlights

• You can receive Equifax credit reports with a free myEquifax account.
• You can access free credit reports from each of the nationwide credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com.
• You can request these free annual credit reports online, by phone, or by mail.
• In addition to receiving a free credit report, you can now also receive your credit report in Spanish from Equifax.com or by calling Equifax Customer Care.

If you want to check your credit reports there are several ways that we'll discuss below.

myEquifax™

We offer your Equifax credit report when you create a myEquifax™ account. Just look for “Equifax Credit Report” on your myEquifax dashboard.

AnnualCreditReport.com

You may already know that you're entitled to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus.

By visiting annualcreditreport.com, you can request credit reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® by visiting annualcreditreport.com or by contacting the Annual Credit Report Service via phone or mail:

• By calling: (877) 322-8228;
• By mailing: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

These reports do not include credit scores. For more information on how to request your credit report by mail visit annualcreditreport.com.

Please note until the end of 2023, you are currently eligible to receive free weekly credit reports online.

Free Equifax Credit Report In Spanish

Additionally you can receive your Equifax credit report in Spanish. Equifax is the first and only credit bureau to offer a free, translated credit report in Spanish online and by mail.

There are two ways to request your Spanish credit report, online or by phone.

You can visit: www.equifax.com/micredito or call Equifax customer service 888-EQUIFAX (1-888-378-4329) and press option 8 to begin requesting your free credit report in Spanish.

Find out more information on how you can get your credit report in Spanish.

More than one annual credit report

You could be eligible for an additional credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act during any 12-month period if you meet one of the following requirements:

• You are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days;
• You receive public welfare assistance;
• You believe your credit report contains inaccurate information due to fraud.

You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you meet these requirements:

• You have been the subject of adverse action, such as denial of credit or insurance, within the past 60 days.
• You have placed a fraud alert on your credit reports.

If any of these situations apply to you, you can request your additional free copy of your Equifax credit report:

• Online at Equifax.com/FCRA
• On our automated phone line: (800) 685-1111. Hours are 7:30 a.m. — 1:30 a.m. ET.
• By mail to: Equifax Disclosure Department, P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374.

If you're sending your request by mail, please be sure to include your name, Social Security number, current and previous addresses, and date of birth. For your protection, you will also need to verify your identity through an acceptable form of identification. Find out more about acceptable forms of identification.

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