You can get your free credit report from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, through one official website: AnnualCreditReport.com. You can order online, by phone or by mail. Checking your own report costs nothing and does not lower your credit score.
This guide covers how to order your reports, how often you can get them, what they contain and how a report differs from a credit score. It also explains specialty consumer reports and when to use a credit freeze or a fraud alert. All rules come from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Key takeaways
- AnnualCreditReport.com is the only website authorized to fill orders for the free reports that federal law gives you.
- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have made free weekly online reports permanent. Federal law separately entitles you to one free report from each bureau every 12 months.
- You can also order by phone at 1-877-322-8228 or by mailing a request form. Mailed and phone requests are processed within 15 days.
- A free credit report is not the same thing as a credit score. Your scores are calculated from the information in your reports.
- Credit freezes and fraud alerts are free. A freeze blocks new credit in your name until you lift it, while a fraud alert requires businesses to verify your identity before opening new credit.
How often you can get a free credit report
Under federal law, you are entitled to one free report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide bureaus. The bureaus go beyond that minimum. According to the FTC, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have permanently extended a program that lets you check your report from each bureau once a week for free. The program started temporarily in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was extended twice and became permanent in 2023.
The weekly reports are available online. The CFPB notes that online access is free every week, while mailed copies are available once a year from each bureau.
Equifax also offers extra reports for a limited time. The CFPB’s “Check your credit report” handout says Equifax offers six additional free reports every 12 months through December 31, 2026. After that date, check AnnualCreditReport.com for what is currently offered.
How to get your free credit report, step by step
The FTC’s free credit reports page says to order only through AnnualCreditReport.com, its phone line or its mail form. Do not contact the three bureaus one by one to order these free annual reports.
- Go to the official site. Type AnnualCreditReport.com into your browser yourself rather than clicking a link in an ad or email. The CFPB calls it the only authorized online source, under federal law, for free reports from the three bureaus.
- Enter your identifying details. The FTC says you will need your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. If you moved in the last two years, you may also need your previous address.
- Choose which bureaus. According to the CFPB, you can request reports from one, two or all three bureaus.
- Answer the security questions. The FTC says you must answer identity verification questions for each bureau.
- Review and save your report. Online access is immediate. Download or print a copy so you can compare reports over time and refer to them if you find an error.
Ordering by phone or mail
If you prefer not to order online, you have two other official options:
- Phone: Call 1-877-322-8228. The FTC says reports ordered by phone are mailed to you within 15 days.
- Mail: Fill out the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. According to the official request form, requests are processed within 15 days of receipt and then mailed. The form also has a box you can mark so that your report shows only the last four digits of your Social Security number.
The FTC says reports are also available in Braille, large print or audio format, which takes about three weeks.
| Method | How to request | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Online | AnnualCreditReport.com | Immediately after identity verification |
| Phone | 1-877-322-8228 | Mailed within 15 days |
| Request form to P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 | Processed within 15 days of receipt, then mailed |
Watch out for look-alike sites
The FTC warns that some websites claim to be connected to AnnualCreditReport.com, put “free report” in their names or use misspellings of the official address. AnnualCreditReport.com and the bureaus will not email you asking for your Social Security number or account information. The CFPB also warns about sites that tie a “free” report to a free trial that later charges you. If you get an unsolicited email, pop-up or call offering a free report, do not click or reply. You can report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For more on spotting scams, see our Reader safety page.
Other times you may qualify for an extra free report
Federal law gives you a right to additional free reports in certain situations. The FTC and CFPB list these:
- A company took adverse action against you, such as denying credit, insurance or employment, based on a credit report. You must ask within 60 days of receiving the notice.
- You are unemployed and plan to apply for a job within 60 days.
- You receive public welfare assistance.
- You believe your file is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft.
- You have a fraud alert on your file.
- Your state’s law provides for a free report.
For these situations, the FTC says to contact the bureau directly.
What is in your credit report
A credit report is a record of your credit history. The CFPB’s handout says it typically includes:
- Personal identifiers: your name, Social Security number, address and phone number.
- Account information: loans and credit accounts, including balances, credit limits, whether accounts are open or closed, payment status and any delinquency dates.
- Dispute information: instructions for disputing a mistake.
The FTC adds that reports can show how you pay your bills and whether you have filed for bankruptcy. The FTC also notes that not every creditor reports to the bureaus, although most bank and chain-store credit cards and loans are included.
Businesses use this information when deciding whether to lend you money, offer insurance or rent you a home. Some employers also use credit reports in hiring.
What to check when you read it
The CFPB suggests looking for:
- Misspelled names or a wrong Social Security number, address or phone number
- Loans or credit accounts you never opened
- Accounts wrongly listed as late
- Incorrect balances or credit limits
- Closed accounts listed as open
- Incorrect delinquency dates
- The same account listed more than once
If you find a mistake, our guide on how to dispute a credit report error walks through the process.
Credit report vs. credit score
A credit report and a credit score are related but different. The CFPB explains that your report holds the underlying information, while your scores are calculated from it. An error in your report can therefore pull your scores down.
AnnualCreditReport.com is where you get your free reports. A score is a separate number calculated from them, so plan to get it elsewhere. The CFPB also notes that you have more than one credit score. Bureaus may hold different data, scores are calculated at different times, and lenders use different scoring models for different kinds of loans, so small differences between scores are normal.
The CFPB lists several places to see a score:
- Your credit card or loan statement, or your online account, since many major lenders show a score there.
- A nonprofit credit or housing counselor. Counselors trained by HUD can often give you a free report and score and help you review them.
- Free score services, some of which are supported by advertising.
- Paid services or subscriptions. Check the cost and any free-trial terms before signing up.
Checking your own report does not affect your score. The CFPB says that requesting your own report is not an application for new credit, so it does not hurt your score.
Specialty consumer reports
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are not the only companies that keep files on consumers. According to the CFPB’s list of consumer reporting companies, other companies focus on specific markets, including:
- Tenant screening, used by landlords and property managers
- Check and bank screening, used by banks, credit unions and merchants that accept checks
- Employment screening, used by employers and volunteer organizations
- Insurance screening, for health, life, auto and property insurance
- Other uses, such as telecom and utility companies, retail return screening and short-term lending
These reports are not available through AnnualCreditReport.com. You request them from each company. The CFPB says most specialty companies provide one free report every 12 months, while some may charge a fee. Its list of companies includes contact details. Because these companies may supply reports to landlords, banks and employers, it can be worth reviewing the ones that apply to you.
Credit freezes vs. fraud alerts
If you are worried about identity theft, the FTC describes two free tools. Both make it harder for someone to open credit in your name, but they work differently.
| Tool | What it does | How to place it | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze | No one can open a new credit account in your name, including you, until you lift it | Contact each of the three bureaus | Until you lift it |
| Initial fraud alert | Businesses must verify your identity before opening new credit, but can still see your report | Contact one bureau, which must notify the other two | One year, and you can renew it |
| Extended fraud alert | Same verification step, plus removal from prescreened credit and insurance offers for five years unless you opt back in | Contact one bureau. Requires an FTC identity theft report from IdentityTheft.gov or a police report | Seven years |
| Active duty alert | Same verification step, plus removal from prescreened offers for two years unless you opt back in | Contact one bureau. For active duty servicemembers | One year, renewable for the length of deployment |
The FTC says a credit freeze is free and does not affect your credit score. Anyone can place one, even without a sign of identity theft. When you want to apply for credit, you can lift the freeze at the bureau the lender will use and then put it back. With an extended fraud alert, you can also get a free credit report from each bureau.
Identity thieves sometimes collect personal details through fake job ads. Our guide on how to spot a fake job offer explains the warning signs.
Note: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rules can change, so confirm details with the official source or a qualified professional. See our Disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Are free weekly credit reports still available?
Yes. The FTC reports that Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have permanently extended the program that lets you check your report from each bureau once a week for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Federal law also entitles you to one free report from each bureau every 12 months.
Does checking my own credit report lower my score?
No. The CFPB says requesting your own credit report does not hurt your credit score because it is not a request for new credit. Checking regularly helps you catch errors early.
Does my free credit report include my credit score?
AnnualCreditReport.com is the source for your free credit reports, and a score is a separate calculation based on them. To see a score, the CFPB suggests checking your credit card or loan statements, a HUD-trained housing counselor, or a free or paid score service if you want to see a score.
Can I order my free reports without going online?
Yes. You can call 1-877-322-8228 or mail the official request form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The FTC says phone and mail requests are processed within 15 days.
What should I do if I find an account I don’t recognize?
Dispute the error with the bureau and with the company that reported it. If you think identity theft is involved, the FTC recommends reporting it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a personal recovery plan. You may also want to place a fraud alert or freeze your credit.
Official sources
- Free Credit Reports – Federal Trade Commission
- You now have permanent access to free weekly credit reports – Federal Trade Commission
- Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts – Federal Trade Commission
- How do I get a free copy of my credit reports? – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Does requesting my credit report hurt my credit score? – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Where can I get my credit scores? – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Check your credit report (PDF) – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- List of consumer reporting companies – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Annual Credit Report Request Form (PDF) – AnnualCreditReport.com
Last checked: November 6, 2026. We review this guide when the official rules change.