How to Check Your Credit Reports for Free

Regularly checking your credit report can help you keep tabs on your financial health and spot errors early on. 

You have the right to request 1 free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each major credit bureau. This request does not affect your credit scores. 

Here, we'll cover how to check your credit reports, what you'll find on them and what to do if you notice something is incorrect.

Requesting your credit reports

To request your credit reports from the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Simply click "Request your credit reports," and you'll be taken through the process. 

You’ll fill out a form, select which of the reports you’d like and then answer some questions to prove your identity. If you request your reports online, you can view them right away.

If you'd prefer, you can also request your credit reports by phone or mail, but it will take longer to receive them. Call the number on AnnualCreditReport.com and answer some verification questions, or print out the request form and mail it in. 

What’s on your credit report?

A credit report contains your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, current and former addresses and places of employment. 

It will also show any open or closed loans or lines of credit in your name along with their credit limits (if applicable), balance and payment history. If there is any financial information available about you via public record – for instance, a foreclosure or bankruptcy – that may show up as well. 

Finally, you’ll see hard and soft inquiries into your credit. A hard inquiry is when a company checks your credit report when you apply for a loan or credit card. This type of inquiry can affect your credit scores. A soft inquiry can happen when a company checks your credit report to see if you are eligible for a preapproved offer for a credit card or loan, you authorize a company to check your credit report to see if you pre-qualify for a credit card or loan, you check your own credit report, or you authorize someone else to like a potential employer. A soft inquiry does not affect your credit scores.

Remember, certain information can remain on your credit report for different amounts of time. For example, a late payment may stay on your report for up to 7 years, while a hard inquiry may stay on your report for 2 years and affect your credit scores for 1 year.

What to do if you spot an error on your credit report

It can be alarming if you notice an error on your credit report, but the credit bureaus are required to correct any wrong information without charge. If you find a mistake, you should contact the credit bureau that lists the error (this can be more than one of the credit bureaus) and the business that reported the incorrect information.

All 3 major credit bureaus accept requests for disputes online, by phone or by mail. When you contact the credit bureau, you’ll need to provide your name and address, the mistakes you want corrected and any documentation that shows the right information. You can provide all this information online. If you’d prefer to dispute by phone, have a copy of your credit report and any supporting documents handy. If you’d like to dispute by mail, it’s a good idea to send a copy of your credit report with the errors circled, a copy of your supporting documents and any forms the credit bureau requires.

You should also contact the business that reported the incorrect information. For instance, if your report shows a credit card you closed is still open, contact the card issuer. The dispute process will differ depending on the business you’re contacting, so be sure to call to see if they have any special instructions.

Credit bureaus generally have 30 days to investigate a dispute, although under certain circumstances, this time period can be extended. They’ll communicate with you about the status of your dispute.