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Now that you know why credit matters, it’s time to get your credit in order. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. The first step is to pull your credit report.

How do you get your credit report? Request a free copy at annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. Other sites may charge money or may be set up to steal your personal information.

Here’s what to expect when you go to annualcreditreport.com: First, you’ll fill out a form with your name, birth date, and Social Security number. Make sure you’re using a secured internet connection, like at home – not public Wi-Fi.

Next, you’ll pick which reports you want. You’re entitled to a free report each year from each of the nationwide credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Sometimes one bureau will have slightly different information than the others. So, you’ll want to make sure all three reports are accurate. You can get the reports all at once or stagger your requests to keep an eye on things throughout the year. The choice is up to you.

Last, you’ll answer questions about the person you know best – you. They may be about prior addresses, loans, or other personal information. This is to make sure that it’s really you ordering your report. If you have trouble with the online questions, you can call 1-877-322-8228.

Then, you’ll get a copy of your credit report. You can look at it then or download it to review later. Just remember to keep the report stored securely – either under lock and key if it’s paper, or on a password-protected device if it’s digital.

For more tips, read Free Credit Reports. Curious about what to do next? Stay tuned for our next two blogs about how to read your credit report and how to fix any mistakes on it. Each day you’re moving closer to getting a handle on your credit in the new year.

 

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caroloral
January 14, 2020
Thank you. This subject is very important to us. You have laid out the mechanics of obtaining a credit report in a straight-forward, simple manner. Better yet, this advice comes from a well-respected source. We have made 2 copies of this—one for each adult in our household!
jberdeaux
January 14, 2020
Equifax refused to post the CR online like the other two did.
KR Frustrated
January 15, 2020
When Equifax was hacked several years ago, my identity was stolen. I have been trying to get my credit report form them for two years now and the issue cannot be resolved. I have sent them all of the requested information, and then some, but they still keep asking for the same stuff over. Not sure what to do now. I've been monitoring the other two and had a fraud alert put on.
Kennedy
January 15, 2020
I tried the website 1/14/2020 and checked the box for all 3 reports. First one up was Transunion. I filled out all the information and got the report with no score. Clicked on the "get score" button and was told it wasn't working at that time and to check back. Tried 2 more times with same result. There was a button for a "pay for your credit report". Bet it worked. Please check into this as I spent over an hour trying to get 1 score. Didn't even get asked about the other 2. Feels like a scam to me.
Read direction…
July 11, 2020
The 3 Bureaus requires one to PAY for the credit SCORE (usually with credit card). Report = FREE Score = you PAY SCORES are different on each site.