Credit Reports & How to Request Them

Find out if negative information appears on your credit report and what your credit rating is. Your credit report is maintained by three major credit bureaus and shows:

• Your personal information
• Credit information
• Public record information
• Names of those who’ve requested copies of your report

It also assigns you a rating, or “score,” based on your payment history, how much new credit you’ve acquired and the forms of credit you hold.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE...

Whenever you apply for a loan or mortgage, your credit record—along with such information as your income, assets, length of employment, length of residence in one place—is checked to see if you’re a good credit risk.

NOTE: Your credit score is not automatically included with your credit report; you must request it from the credit bureau.

How Do I Get a Copy of My Credit Report?

AnnualCreditReport.com provides members a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Visit the Web site or:

• Call 1-877-322-8228
• Mail a request to Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Credit Bureaus

If you request your report/score directly from the reporting agencies, the cost is generally around $20 or less. If you find a discrepancy or problem with your report, you will want to contact them immediately to correct it.

Equifax
PO Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111

Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013-0949
1-888-397-3742

TransUnion
Consumer Disclosure Center
PO Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213

Fraud Alerts

If you're deployed, place a free "active duty alert" on your credit bureau files to minimize the risk of identity theft while you're away. Alerts are in effect for one year. A free "90-day fraud alert" is also available.

• Visit fraudalerts.equifax.com or call Equifax at
  1-800-525-6285