1. Go to the official Annual Credit Report Web site.
This Web site is operated as a collaboration between the three credit reporting agencies and the Federal Trade Commission. It allows consumers to obtain one free copy of their credit report, from each credit bureau, once every 12 months. (Warning: Beware of imposter Web sites that claim to offer free copies of your credit report, but actually require you to sign up and pay for an ongoing credit monitoring service.)
2. Contact each credit bureau separately to request a free copy of your credit report. You can do this by telephone, online or in writing. The quickest method is online. The Web sites to visit are:
Experian.com,
TransUnion.com and
Equifax.com. You can purchase a three-in-one credit report from any of the credit bureaus or from a variety of other companies. These reports contain identical information to what’s listed within the single credit reports issued by each credit bureau, but the information from the three credit bureaus is displayed together in an easy-to-read format within a single report. This makes comparing the information on your three credit reports easier. The charge for a three-in-one credit report is anywhere from $19.95 to $39.95, depending on the service you use.
