Where to get your credit report for free
You can get your credit report free once a year from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — through AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only official site authorized by federal law. You do not need to enter a credit card or pay anything.
Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, enter your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth, then choose which bureau's report you want to see. You can request all three at once or spread them across the year. The site will show your report when ready or mail it to you within 15 days, depending on which option you choose.
If you do not have internet access, call 1-877-322-8228 to request your report by phone. You can also write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Key Takeaways
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the only free, official source for your credit report from all three bureaus.
- Your credit report lists your payment history, current debts, and accounts opened in your name — but does not include your credit score.
- You can request your report by website, phone, or mail once per year from each bureau at no cost.
- Check your report for errors like accounts you did not open, wrong payment dates, or debts that are not yours, and dispute them with the bureau in writing.
- Your credit score is separate from your report and usually costs money to see, though some banks and credit card companies show it free.
What information is in your credit report
Your credit report contains four main sections: personal information, credit accounts, payment history, and inquiries. The personal information section lists your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth — the data you used to request the report.
The credit accounts section shows every loan, credit card, and line of credit in your name, including the account number, when you opened it, your credit limit or loan amount, and your current balance. The payment history section records whether you paid on time, paid late, or missed payments on each account. A late payment stays on your report for seven years from the date you first missed it.
The inquiries section lists every time a lender or creditor checked your credit in the past two years. There are two types: hard inquiries (when you explore for credit) and soft inquiries (when a company checks your credit to send you offers). Only hard inquiries affect your credit score.
How to spot errors on your credit report
Read through each section carefully and look for accounts you do not recognize, wrong payment dates, balances that do not match your records, or accounts listed as open when you closed them. Common errors include a payment marked late when you paid on time, a debt listed twice, or an account opened in your name that you did not explore for.
Write down the specific error — the account name, account number, what is wrong, and what the correct information should be. Keep copies of any documents that prove the error, such as a bank statement showing you paid on time or a letter closing the account.
Contact the credit bureau in writing and include your name, address, Social Security number, a description of the error, and copies of your supporting documents. You can find the dispute address on your credit report or on the bureau's website. Send your letter by certified mail so you have proof it was received. The bureau must investigate within 30 days and send you the results in writing.
The difference between your credit report and credit score
Your credit report is a record of your credit history — the accounts you have, how you paid them, and how much you owe. Your credit score is a three-digit number (usually between 300 and 850) that summarizes that history into a single rating that lenders use to decide whether to lend to you and at what interest rate.
Your credit report is free once a year from AnnualCreditReport.com. Your credit score is not included in that free report. Many credit card companies and banks show your score free through their online banking portal or mobile app. You can also buy your score from the bureaus or from sites like Credit Karma, which shows your score free but is not an official bureau.
Your score changes as your credit history changes — when you pay a bill late, open a new account, or pay down a balance. Your report is updated continuously as creditors report new information to the bureaus.
When to check your credit history
Check your report at least once a year, even if you are not planning to borrow money. Catching errors early prevents them from affecting your score and your ability to borrow later. If you spot an error, dispute it right away so the bureau has time to investigate before you explore for a loan or credit card.
Check your report before you explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit. This gives you time to fix errors and understand what lenders will see. If you have been denied credit, you have the right to a free report within 60 days of the denial — contact the bureau that provided the report the lender used.
If you suspect identity theft — accounts you did not open, inquiries you do not recognize, or debts you do not owe — request your report when ready from all three bureaus. You can also place a fraud alert on your report by contacting one bureau; the bureau will notify the other two.
How to read your credit report
Your report will list your personal information at the top, followed by your credit accounts in sections. Each account shows the creditor name, account number, type of account (credit card, auto loan, mortgage, etc.), when you opened it, your credit limit or loan amount, current balance, and payment status.
Payment status is shown as current (on time), 30 days late, 60 days late, 90 days late, or in collections. If an account shows a late payment, the report will show how many days late and when the payment was made. Accounts you have closed will be marked as closed or paid off.
At the bottom of your report, you will see inquiries — the companies that checked your credit. Hard inquiries (from credit applications) are listed separately from soft inquiries (from companies sending you offers). Your report will also note if you have placed a fraud alert or credit freeze on your file.
What to do if you find identity theft on your report
If you see accounts you did not open or inquiries you do not recognize, contact the credit bureaus and the creditors involved when ready. Call the creditor first to report the fraud and ask them to close the account and remove it from your credit report. Then dispute the account with the credit bureau in writing, marking it as fraudulent.
Place a fraud alert on your credit file by calling one of the three bureaus. The bureau you call will notify the other two. A fraud alert tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. A fraud alert lasts one year and is free.
If the fraud is serious or ongoing, you can place a credit freeze on your file. A credit freeze prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name without your permission. You must request a freeze with each bureau separately. A freeze is free if you have been a victim of identity theft; otherwise, there may be a small fee. You can lift a freeze temporarily when you explore for credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking my own credit report hurt my credit score?
No. Checking your own credit report is a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries from lenders and creditors count toward your score. You can check your report as many times as you want without any impact.
Why do the three bureaus show different information?
Not all creditors report to all three bureaus. Some report to one or two, and some report to all three. This means your report may differ slightly between Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That is why it is worth checking all three reports once a year.
How long does a late payment stay on my credit report?
A late payment stays on your report for seven years from the date you first missed the payment. After seven years, it falls off automatically. Accounts in collections also stay for seven years from the original delinquency date, not from when the collection agency bought the debt.
Can I remove accurate information from my credit report?
No. If the information is accurate, you cannot remove it. You can only dispute information that is wrong. Accurate negative information stays on your report for the time periods set by law — usually seven years for late payments and collections, ten years for bankruptcy.
What if a creditor will not remove a fraudulent account after I dispute it?
If the bureau investigates and finds the account is fraudulent but the creditor refuses to remove it, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. You can also add a statement to your credit report explaining the fraud, though this does not remove the account.