Free Credit Reports

Under federal law, you are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

A credit report contains important financial and personal information, including your payment history, open and closed accounts, credit inquiries, and any public records such as bankruptcies or judgments. Reviewing it regularly is one of the simplest ways to protect your finances.

To protect your identity, you'll need to provide basic information like your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Why Check Your Credit Report?

Reviewing your credit report helps you:

• Ensure your information is accurate and up to date
• Detect and prevent identity theft
• Prepare for major financial decisions like applying for credit, insurance, or employment

When You May Get Additional Free Reports

You may qualify for extra free reports if:

• You are denied credit, insurance, or employment (request within 60 days)
• You are unemployed and job searching
• You receive public assistance
• You are a victim of fraud or identity theft

Tips for Managing Your Reports

• You can request all three reports at once or spread them out over the year to monitor changes for free.
• Information may vary between bureaus, so it's important to review each one.
• If you find errors, you have the right to dispute them and have them corrected.