Free Access

• The Fair Credit Reporting Act entitles you to one free credit report a year from each of the three credit reporting companies. You have the option of requesting all three reports at once or staggering them over a 12-month period. The three credit reporting agencies created a joint website---annualcreditreport.com---specifically for consumers to access the free reports. You can also call (877) 322-8228 to request your free report.
  
  

Requested Information

• To access your free credit report, you need to provide your Social Security or tax identification number, as well as your name, address and date of birth, according to the Federal Trade Commission. When you request your free report, you may also be asked a question about one of your accounts, such as your car payment amount, in order to verify your identity for security purposes. If you request a report from two or more of the credit reporting companies, each company may ask you to verify different information for your security.
  
  

Features

• Your credit report contains personal information including your address, birth date, employer and spouse's name, if applicable. Upon request, credit reporting agencies may also provide creditors with additional information, such as your employment history and your income. Other details in your credit report include your payment history, credit limits on open accounts and account balances. Credit inquiries from potential creditors or employers over the past two years are also listed on your report. Credit reports may also include records of arrests, judgments, tax liens, foreclosures and bankruptcies, if applicable.
  
  

Considerations

• You're also entitled to a free credit report if you're denied employment, insurance or credit based on information in your credit file. Any company that denies your application based on your credit report is obligated to provide you with a notice identifying the contact information for the credit reporting agency that provided the report. In this case, you contact the credit reporting company directly to get a free copy of your credit report.