Because the information in your credit report is used to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and buying or renting a home, you should be sure the information is accurate and up-to-date. In addition, monitoring your credit is also one of the best ways to spot identity theft. Check your credit report at least once a year to correct errors and detect unauthorized activity.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide a free, personal credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, whether you’ve been sued, or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or buying or renting a home.
How do I request my free credit report?
You can request your free report online, by phone or by mail.Visit https://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. No matter how you request your report, you have the option to request all three reports at once or to order one report at a time. By requesting the reports separately, you can monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year. It’s not a bad idea to schedule the ordering of these reports in your planner. For example, in January order a report from Equifax, in May order the report from Experian, and in September order the report from TransUnion.