Free Credit Reports
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. You are also entitled to a free credit report under certain circumstances, such as when you are denied credit because of something in your credit report. You can order three free credit reports each year, but you don’t have to order all three at the same time. If you order one from each of the three credit bureaus every four months, you can stay more current on what’s in your credit accounts, without having to buy a service. If you are married, you can double up by ordering a report for you and for your spouse – that’s six free credit reports per year – enough to order one every other month.