You can get a copy of your credit report for free from each of the three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at AnnualCreditReport.com, by phone at 877-322-8228, or by mail. That website is the only one authorized by federal law to fulfill this right, and all three methods are free after basic identity verification.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy
The Three Ways to Request Your Report
Online at AnnualCreditReport.com
This is the fastest route. Choose your state, pick which bureau’s report you want (one, two, or all three), and answer the identity questions. Your report usually appears on screen within a few minutes, and you can save it as a PDF.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports Plenty of other sites advertise free credit reports, but AnnualCreditReport.com is the one the law points to.2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy
By Phone
Call 877-322-8228 and follow the automated voice prompts and keypad entries.2USAGov. Learn About Your Credit Report and How to Get a Copy You do not need internet access, but the bureau mails a paper copy rather than showing it on a screen.
By Mail
Print the Annual Credit Report Request Form from AnnualCreditReport.com, fill it in, and send it to:3Annual Credit Report.com. Annual Credit Report Request Form
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Fold the form into a #10 envelope. Don’t staple or tape it. This method suits anyone who wants a paper record or doesn’t have reliable internet access.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Each bureau asks for your name, current address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, have your previous address handy as well.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
After the basics, the system asks security questions drawn from your credit file. Expect things a stranger wouldn’t know from your wallet: the monthly payment on an old car loan, the lender that holds your mortgage, the range of an original loan amount.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports A rough memory of your past accounts is usually enough. Answering correctly is the main thing standing between your file and someone else.
How Often You Can Get a Free Report
Federal law guarantees one free report from each of the three bureaus every 12 months.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures In practice you can get them much more often. The bureaus have permanently extended free weekly access through AnnualCreditReport.com, and Equifax is offering six additional free reports per year through 2026 on the same site.1Federal Trade Commission. Free Credit Reports
You are also entitled to an extra free report in specific situations:4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures
- A lender, insurer, or employer took adverse action against you based on your file, and you request within 60 days of the notice.
- You are unemployed and plan to look for work within the next 60 days (certify in writing).
- You receive public welfare benefits.
- You believe your file contains inaccurate information because of fraud, or you have placed a fraud alert.
If none of those apply and you have used up your free copies, a bureau can charge up to $16.00 for an additional copy in 2026. That cap is adjusted for inflation each year.5Federal Register. Fair Credit Reporting Act Disclosures
If Identity Verification Fails
Getting a security question wrong doesn’t lock you out for good. Try phone next, or switch to a mailed request with copies of identity documents. Bureaus generally accept a driver’s license or state ID, a Social Security card, a recent utility bill showing your address, or a pay stub. Each bureau has its own mailing address and document list for these cases, so check the bureau’s website before you send anything.
If phone verification also fails, you’ll be directed to mail your supporting documents to the bureau, or in some cases upload them through the bureau’s website. Once the bureau reviews the paperwork, it mails your report to the address on file.
How Long the Report Takes to Arrive
Online requests deliver almost immediately. You can view the report on screen, download it, and save the confirmation number in case anything goes wrong.
Phone and mail requests take longer. The bureaus have up to 15 days from receipt of your request to process and send the report.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681j – Charges for Certain Disclosures Add mailing time on top of that. The paper copy goes to the address you gave during verification.
What the Report Does Not Include
The free report shows what’s in your file: accounts, balances, payment history, inquiries, and public records. It does not include your credit score. The score is a separate number calculated from the data in the report, and bureaus aren’t required to give it away under this program. Many credit card issuers and banks show scores for free in their apps or on monthly statements, and you can also buy a score directly from a bureau.
Reports From Companies Other Than the Big Three
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion aren’t the only companies keeping a file on you. Specialty consumer reporting agencies track information tied to specific industries: banking account history, rental history, insurance claims, employment background.6Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Are Specialty Consumer Reporting Agencies and What Types of Information Do They Collect A denied checking account, apartment application, or insurance policy often traces back to one of these files rather than to your standard credit report. ChexSystems is the most common example on the banking side; you can request a free copy through its consumer portal, by phone at 800-428-9623, or by mail.7ChexSystems. Consumer Disclosure The CFPB maintains a broader list of specialty reporting companies if you need to look further.