Your credit report tells potential lenders how responsible you’ve been with credit in the past. When you apply for credit, lenders can legally request this document from one or more of the credit bureaus (Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion®) to assess how risky it is to lend to you.
What can lenders see on your credit report?
Your credit report provides a detailed summary of your credit history. It includes your personal information and lists details on your past and current credit accounts. It also documents each time you or a lender requests your credit report, as well as instances where your accounts have been passed on to a collection agency. Financial issues that are part of the public record, such as bankruptcies and foreclosures, are included, too.
How to access your report
You can request a free copy of your credit report from each of three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® – once each year at AnnualCreditReport.com or call toll-free 1-877-322-8228. You’re also entitled to see your credit report within 60 days of being denied credit, or if you are on welfare, unemployed, or your report is inaccurate.
It’s a good idea to request a credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies and to review them carefully, as each one may contain inconsistent information or inaccuracies. If you spot an error on one of your consumer reports, you should submit a dispute to the agency.
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What does a credit score mean?
Your credit score is a numerical representation of your credit report that represents your creditworthiness.
Scores can also be referred to as credit ratings, and sometimes as a FICO® Score, created by Fair Isaac Corporation, and typically range from 300 to 850.
FICO® Scores are comprised of five components that have associated weights:
- Payment history: 35%
- Amounts owed: 30%
- Length of credit history: 15%
- How many types of credit in use: 10%
- Account inquiries: 10%
Lenders use your credit score to evaluate your credit risk – generally, the higher your credit score, the lower your risk may be to the lender. To learn more, view how your credit score is calculated.
Did you know? Wells Fargo offers eligible customers free access to their FICO® Score ― plus tools, tips, and much more. Learn how to access your FICO Score.
Responsibility is key
Above all, it’s important to use credit responsibly. A good credit history and credit score can be the difference between being able to purchase a home, buy a car, or pay for college. Proactively managing your credit report is a great way to stay in control of your finances, and ultimately achieve your goals.
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Checking your credit report—a financial report that includes information about your credit accounts—can help you maintain or improve your credit and check for signs of identity theft. If you want to check your credit reports for free, use AnnualCreditReport.com.
Federal law allows you to use this website to request one free copy of your credit report a year from each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
We’ll teach you how to use the website and what to look for while reviewing your credit reports.
1. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com
Start by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free credit report. Make sure you visit the correct website by typing the address into your browser’s search bar or clicking a link from a website you trust to avoid attempts to steal your personal information. Here’s what it looks like:
2. Enter Your Personal Information
Once you’re on the correct website, click on the button near the top of the page or bottom left that says, “Request your free credit reports.” Afterward, click on the button with the same words below the line that reads, “Fill out a form.” Finally, complete the form by entering your name, birthdate, current address and Social Security number (SSN).
If you haven’t lived at your current address for at least two years, you’ll have to enter your previous address, too.
3. Request Credit Reports & Answer Any Security Questions
After you fill out the form, you can request your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. You’ll likely be asked to answer some security questions to verify your identity. For example, you may be asked when you were born or information about past accounts you may have owned. In addition, you may be asked to provide your phone number to receive a one-time password.
4. Generate Your Report Online
Once you access your credit reports, download them to your computer or print them before you exit out of the window for later review.
If you have trouble requesting an online copy of your credit reports, you can also request to receive a free copy by mail or phone. To receive a free copy by mail, fill out the mail request form and send it to this address:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, Ga 303348-5281
The form asks you the same questions as the online form.
If you prefer calling instead, dial 877-322-8228.
5. Review Your Report & Dispute Any Errors
Reading your credit report is one of the most vital steps when it comes to building credit and maintaining it. While reviewing your report, make sure your personal and account information is accurate.
Common credit reporting errors to look for include the following:
- Incorrect name or address
- Paid accounts that are listed as open
- Account balance or credit limit errors
- Accounts that don’t belong to you
If you spot an error, dispute it with each credit bureau that lists it on your report or the creditor that reported it. The investigation will typically take 30 days to complete. Once it’s over, the credit bureau will remove the information if it finds that it is in fact an error.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is it important to check my credit report?
It’s important to check your credit report because credit reporting mistakes happen. They can be the result of a creditor reporting inaccurate information or a sign of identity theft. If the error lowers your credit score, it can decrease your approval odds when applying for a loan and it could prevent you from securing the best rate.
How many free credit reports can you get per year?
The number of credit reports you can get for free depends on where you get them from and whether you’ve placed a fraud alert on your credit reports.
For example, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to receive one free credit report from each major credit bureau a year. This means you can view all your credit reports for free once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com.
In addition, some credit reporting companies and personal finance websites allow you to check one or more of your reports for free. For example, if you sign up for myEquifax™, you can get six free Equifax credit reports per year through 2026. Experian also allows you to view your Experian credit report for free 12 times a year.
You can also get an additional free copy of your report from each credit bureau if you suspect fraud and place a fraud alert on your credit reports. To do this, you must contact one of the credit bureaus.
If you’ve been a victim of identity theft and filed a report, you can get an additional six free credit reports per year, two from each credit bureau.
How often should I check my credit report?
It’s generally recommended that you check your credit reports a minimum of one time a year, but you can check them as often as you like. Before you apply for credit, it can be a good idea to review your reports for errors to increase your chances of securing more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates.
What’s the difference between a credit report and a credit score?
Although they are interconnected, your credit report and credit score are separate.
Your credit report contains information about your credit accounts, including any balances you owe and your payment history. Your credit score, on the other hand, is a three-digit number that usually ranges from 300 to 850. Credit scoring models, such as FICO, use the information listed in your credit reports to calculate your score.
How does getting a free copy of my credit report impact my credit score?
Requesting your credit report requires a soft credit check, which has no impact on your credit score.