How to Check Credit Report

It is a good habit to regularly check your credit report to review your credit score and look for any changes that may affect your credit rating. Also, people who are worried about suspicious activity can also view their credit report to inform authorities about potential identity theft and put a fraud alert on the credit report. Luckily you can check your credit report for free through various credit reporting agencies.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Go to the Annual Credit Report website (see Resources). This site is backed by the Federal Trade Commission and provides free annual credit reports to those who request one. If you need more frequent credit reports, you will have to pay a modest fee.

2. Provide your social security number, full name, address and date of birth. If you request your credit report online, you will be redirected to a secure page on Annual Credit Report to give this information.

3. Choose the credit reporting agencies that you want to receive a report from. The three central credit report providers include Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You should opt to receive a credit report from all three agencies. You can also visit each agency's individual website to check your credit report.

4. Check your credit report by sending in an annual credit report request form to the Annual Credit Report Request Service. You can download the site from their website and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, Georgia 30348. You will then receive a copy of your credit report via mail.

5. Call to check you credit report. The final option that you have is to contact Annual Credit Report by phone. Call 1-877-322-8228 and follow the prompts to receive your credit report.

Resources

• Check your credit report through the FTC backed Annual Credit Report site

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How strong is your score?  Did you know checking your own credit won’t affect your score? Click here to see yours in two easy steps from Experian.