How to Order a Credit Report & Score

The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows consumers to receive a copy of their credit report.

A credit report is information about how you pay your bills, whether you've been sued, arrested or declared bankruptcy, and your general credit history. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows consumers to receive a free copy of their credit report through The Annual Credit Report website, from the three major national credit reporting companies, once every 12 months. Those three companies are: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Once you receive your credit report, you may purchase your credit score, which is a number used by a lender to determine a consumer's risk, from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

Things You'll Need

• Form of payment (for credit score only)

Instructions

1. Go to the The Annual Credit Report website and fill out the free form to start your credit report. The Annual Credit Report website is the only website authorized by the Federal Trade Commission to fill orders for free annual credit reports. Or you can call 1-877-322-8228 to order a free report over the phone.

2. Mail a copy of your request if you prefer. Send it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281,Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

3. Order a credit score from Equifax, Experian and/or TransUnion once you've received your free credit report. You can buy one from one or all of the three companies. A credit score is a calculation obtained with information from your credit report and can range from 280 to 850. A higher number is a better score. This number determines the risk for a lender.

   Prices vary depending on what each company is offering with the credit score. Prices can range from $15.95 to $39.95 depending on whether or not you get a credit monitoring report with your credit score.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtain your free credit report annually by going to the Annual Credit Report website.

• The FDIC and the FTC recommend going to the Annual Credit Report website rather than contacting the three credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union, directly for your credit report. When you need to purchase your credit score, you will have to contact those companies.

• The FTC warns consumers to be on the lookout for "imposter" websites that say they offer free reports. The "free" report comes with strings attached (for instance a credit monitoring service that includes an annual fee).

References

• FDIC Consumer Response Center
• Federal Trade Commission

Resources

• Annual Credit Report
• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion