3 circumstances make you eligible to obtain a free credit report:
1) If you have been denied credit or employment based on your credit report, you can obtain your credit report from the company where your creditor obtained your credit report free of charge if you request it within a 60 DAYS after receiving the denial letter. Thus, if you receive a credit denial letter saying that the company used Equifax to obtain your credit history, you can get a free copy of your credit report from Equifax if you request it within two months after your credit was denied.
Tip: If you apply for 1 or two credit "no annual free credit cards". Credit Bureaus have no way of knowing whether you have been approved or disapproved. All they know is that a credit card company requests your credit report. So after you apply for these credit cards, send a letter to credit bureaus requesting your credit history.
2) If you write a letter certifying that you are either unemployed and plan to seek employment in the next sixty days, or you are a welfare recipient, or you believe you have been a victim of fraud, there will be no charge for your report.Unfortunately, none of the credit bureaus accept requests for free credit reports online. You will need either to call them or send them a letter requesting a free credit report.
3) If you live in Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey or Vermont, you are eligible for one free copy of your credit report each year. It must be ordered by phone or mail. Instructions for ordering from each of the three companies are below:
For more information regarding obtaining credit reports from the Credit Reporting Agencies, please go here.
What you will need to make your request
All request for credit reports REQUIRE the following information. If even one of the following is missing, the credit bureaus will not give you a free credit report. (Note: Do not sent this information to the webmaster of this website. We cannot provide your free credit report directly. You need to contact one or more Credit bureaus listed below.)
- Full name (including Jr., Sr., II)
- Social security number
- Copy of your utility or some other bill
- Copy of your driver licence
- Current and previous addresses within the last 5 years
- Date of birth
- Your current employer (if employed)
- Signature
- Telephone number (home)
Equifax
by phone: 800-997-2493
by mail: In your letter, Include all information listed above.
Equifax
P. O. Box 105496
Atlanta, GA 30348-5496
Experian
You may be able to get it free online from Experian. Their
consumer web site is known as CreditExpert, See if you're
eligible. No Obligations!
Trans Unionby phone: 1 888 EXPERIAN
by mail: You must fill out the following form. Sign it and send it to the following address:
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
by phone: 1-800-888-4213
by mail:
Trans Union LLC
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022