The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.
A credit report includes information on:
- where you live
- how you pay your bills
- whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or 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 renting a home.
Every American will soon be able to get a free credit report every year -- no strings attached. This may come as a welcome relief to the millions of Americans who have had to pay to review their credit reports in the past. The free credit reports will come as a result of the FTC's final ruling under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, the three companies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — must provide an annual copy of their credit reports on each consumer upon request.
To order a Free Credit Report:
- visit annualcreditreport.com
- call 1-877-322-8228
- complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
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