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When you can get free credit reports

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Topics addressed on May 31, 2006:

When you can get free credit reports

Dear Max,

If I were denied credit recently, am I able to get a free copy of my credit to see what's on it? I've already had my free credit report for this year.

- MJC

Dear MJC,

The free annual credit report is separate from a free credit report when your application has been declined.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACT Act) allows you to get a free credit report from each of the national credit reporting companies once every 12 months at https://www.annualcreditreport.com.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows you to get additional free credit reports from one or all of the national credit reporting companies directly from each company’s Web site for several other specific reasons:

When your application is declined, you can get a free credit report from the credit reporting company that provided the report used by the lender as part of its decision.
If you are unemployed and seeking employment
If you are receiving public welfare assistance
If you have reason to believe you are a fraud victim

Some states have laws that entitle you to one or more additional free reports beyond the free annual credit report and the reasons specified in the FCRA.

Thanks for asking.

Credit Reporting

Improve your credit by understanding basic consumer credit information: what’s in a credit report, how to check it and how often you should review it.
Credit Scores

What are credit scores, and how are they calculated? Get the answers to your credit score questions.
Preventing Fraud

Learn the warning signs of credit fraud, and get the credit information you need to protect yourself. Are you already a victim? Experian can help.
Life Events and Credit

Find out how life events affect your credit and how to build good credit for the major purchases in your life.
Credit Advice

Ask Experian

Get credit information on the hottest topics from Experian’s team.
Preapproved Credit Offers

What’s in a credit report, how can you check it and how often should you review it? Make sure your credit information is accurate and check your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports side-by-side with Experian’s 3 Bureau Online Credit Report.
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