How to Get a Free Credit Report

You are legally entitled to three free credit reports each year: one from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). A consumer's legal right to three free credit reports per year is a provision of the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970. The law also stipulates that if a credit report is used to deny you credit, insurance, employment, or benefits, you are entitled to an extra credit report from that credit bureau.

You can order these free credit reports through the government-sponsored Annual Credit Report program online, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by mailing a request form. You'll get your credit reports immediately through an online request, while the other two methods require you to wait 15 days from when your request is received.

In addition to the three free credit reports you are legally entitled to each year, you can get an unlimited number of free reports from one of the free credit report websites not sponsored by the government. These sites give free reports from one or two of the major bureaus, and most update their info on a weekly or monthly basis.

WalletHub, on the other hand, is the only site that offers free credit reports (and scores) that are updated on a daily basis. In other words, WalletHub gives you up to 365 updated TransUnion credit reports for free every year. And you can check them as often as you'd like. You'll also receive personalized credit analysis, which will tell you what you need to improve, how to do it, and how long it will take.

As a result, we recommend using WalletHub as your go-to credit report site and supplementing it with yearly reports from Annual Credit Report.

You can see all three credit scores for free by checking WalletHub, Experian, and Equifax separately. If you sign into your free WalletHub account, you can see your latest credit score based on your TransUnion credit report. To see your score calculated with Experian or Equifax credit report data, just create a free online account with each credit bureau. Unfortunately, you cannot get all three credit scores for free in one place.

How You Can See All Three Credit Scores for Free

• Equifax – See your VantageScore 3.0 credit score, based on Equifax credit data
• Experian – See your FICO Score 8 credit score, based on Experian credit data
• TransUnion – See your VantageScore 3.0, based on TransUnion credit data

Equifax and Experian also offer 3-bureau credit scores – one scoring model applied to all three credit reports – as part of a paid subscription. However, you don't really need to check three different versions of your credit score. The truth is, all of your credit scores will reflect your creditworthiness more or less the same. And any potential change (for better or worse) will most likely affect your scores from all three bureaus similarly, as a result.

If you want more than just a free credit score, a WalletHub account also gets you free personalized advice for credit improvement, along with your full TransUnion credit report and free credit monitoring.

Address for Requesting a Free Credit Report by Mail:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

If you want to check your credit report for free more than once a year, you can log into your WalletHub account. Your WalletHub account gives you access to your free TransUnion credit report (which can be emailed to you) along with daily updates and the ability to dispute items with TransUnion.

You can get a free TransUnion FICO score through a Bank of America credit card account, select Barclays credit card accounts, and Discover's free Credit Scorecard program (open to all).

You cannot get a free FICO score from TransUnion directly. Instead, TransUnion allows you to view your VantageScore by paying $24.95 per month for a TransUnion account. That gives you unlimited access to your credit score, your credit report, and credit monitoring.

You don't have to pay to check your TransUnion credit score, however, and the credit score you check doesn't have to be a FICO score. You can get free daily credit score updates based on TransUnion credit report data from WalletHub. You can also monitor your credit and receive customized advice based on your credit profile.

A credit report is a summary of your recent credit history plus additional personal facts, including your age, address, marital status, employment history and other details that will help potential creditors or employers gauge your creditworthiness.

A credit report includes a record of all credit cards you currently hold, have held, or applied for. It also includes the credit limit and your payment history.

Credit reports are free. More specifically, a credit report doesn't have to cost you a thing. The major credit bureaus do sell their credit reports – for $1 to $16, often as part of a bundle with credit score access and credit monitoring. But there's no reason to pay for any of that.

For one thing, everyone is entitled to a copy of their TransUnion, Equifax and Experian credit reports every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also get free daily credit report updates from WalletHub, along with free daily credit scores and free 24/7 credit monitoring. There are a number of other free credit report providers, too.

Plus, by law, you have the right to a free credit report if you are:

• Rejected for credit, insurance or employment (your credit history must have influenced the decision; requests must be made within 60 days of being notified)
• A victim of identity theft or fraud (requires placing a fraud alert on at least one credit report)
  
• Receiving public welfare assistance
• Unemployed (but plan to apply for employment within the next 60 days).

It's also worth noting that credit bureaus legally can't charge more than $12 for a credit report. But Equifax sidesteps this rule by selling credit score and report bundles for $16 apiece.

The biggest differences between a credit report and other types of consumer reports are the kinds of information listed, who can access them, and what exactly they're used for. A credit report is a specific type of consumer report used for lending, while the broader term "consumer report" could be used to describe things like your driving history or criminal record.

Credit Reports vs. Other Consumer Reports:

Credit reports contain your credit history and are used to calculate credit scores and gauge your creditworthiness. They are generated by the three major credit bureaus and are accessed by lenders when you apply for new credit (like a loan or credit card). You can access your free TransUnion credit report through your WalletHub account.

Other types of consumer reports, also known as investigative consumer reports, are more like a background check. They can provide a more complete picture of a person and may be compiled with everything from interviews with friends to work history, lifestyle choices, criminal records, and more. These consumer reports are not used to determine creditworthiness and are not allowed to be used during the credit-granting process. They are usually generated when dealing with employment or tenancy.

Common Types of Consumer Reports:

- Credit report

- Driving record

- Criminal record

- Check writing report

- Insurance report

- Tenant report

- Employment data report

Both credit reports and other consumer reports are regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and they all require your consent before being viewed by someone else.

You can get an official copy of your credit report by requesting it from AnnualCreditReport.com. Each of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, is required by federal law to provide you with a copy of your report once a year upon request.

You can also check your official TransUnion credit report for free here at WalletHub and get daily updates.  

It's important to note, there are other instances when you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report, too. We've compiled a list below.

Other Instances When You're Entitled to a Free Credit Report

• You were denied credit, employment or insurance, or you experienced another adverse action based on your credit
• You are placing a fraud alert on your credit report
• Your credit report is inaccurate because of fraud
• You are unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days
• You receive public welfare assistance
• The state you live in provides free credit reports

Only an organization or person with a "permissible purpose" can check your credit report, such as a lender processing an application, a landlord considering tenancy, or an entity with a court order. Consumer reports are typically requested for purposes related to credit, employment, insurance, and rental housing.

You can also check your own credit report and give others written consent to do so. Congress limited the use of credit reports to protect consumers' privacy with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Here's Who Can Check Your Credit Report:

• Lenders
• Creditors
• Insurance companies
• Utility providers
• Landlords
• Employers
• Government agencies
• An entity with a court order

Other companies can access your basic contact information from the credit reporting agencies for marketing purposes, like sending pre-approved credit card offers. However, these companies cannot view your full report. Plus, you have the right to remove yourself from marketing lists, by visiting optoutprescreen.com or calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). You have the option to opt out for five years or permanently.

Who Cannot Access Your Credit Report?

Your credit report is not available to the public, your friends or family. If your personal information is used to access your credit report without permission, you can sue for damages or up to $1,000, depending on the circumstances.

How Do You Check Your Own Credit Report?

You can check your own credit report and get personalized credit-improvement tips for free here at WalletHub.

Yes, Capital One CreditWise is free, and you do not need to be one of the company's customers to access the tool. You must live in the U.S. and have a Social Security number associated with a credit report on file at TransUnion. You can create an account online, and a credit card is not necessary.  

CreditWise provides your credit score and sends alerts when there are changes to your credit report. The tool also offers information and services to help you understand and improve your credit, including a score simulator.

On that note, you can check your credit score for free here at WalletHub and use our simulator to determine how different actions will impact your credit.