Everyone is entitled by law to a free copy of their credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once every 12 months free of charge, or you can buy a credit report from each of the three bureaus if you want to view your report more often; it's roughly $10 per copy from each bureau.
The three large U.S. credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — were required by a 2003 federal law to set up AnnualCreditReport.com as a central online resource for report requests.
You can also request your reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by downloading a request form and mailing it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
NOTE: This report will NOT include your score. The most reliable place to pull a copy of your credit report with your score is MyFico.com; and it is not free.
Upon visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, users are directed to a form page and asked to provide personal identifying information, including name and address, Social Security number and date of birth.
After submitting your basic information, you go to a page allowing you to select reports from the three large credit bureaus by checking boxes next to the Equifax, Experian and TransUnion logos. You can select one or all of the credit bureaus. Instructions discuss whether you should review all three reports immediately, or whether you should spread the requests over a period of time. TIP: Do not close out of the credit report once pulled up; either save it or print it. The moment you close it you will not have access to it again and will be required to pay for another one
The next step is designed to verify your identity. A page of questions appears about your creditors, loan terms or other details on the credit report that you're expected to know. You need to select the correct answers get access to the credit report; if you answer any of them incorrectly you will need to mail in your request for a credit report with proof of your identity – state ID, social security card; etc. After requesting one report, you may return to the main site to repeat the process with another credit bureau.
Many consumers have a difficult time understanding their credit reports and piecing the three reports together, so here are examples and explanations of the most common elements that appear in each of the three free credit bureau reports.
A credit report is divided into four sections: identifying information, credit history, public records and inquiries.
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Personal information
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Name: JOE Q. CONSUMER
Other names: CONSUMER, JOSEPH Q. Report number: XXXXXXX Report date: July 4, 2013 |
SSN: XXX-XX-6789
Date of birth: 04/1965 Date of birth: 04/1965 Telephone number(s): 555-1212 |
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CURRENT ADDRESS:
123 MAIN ST., NEW YORK, NY 12345 |
PREVIOUS ADDRESSES:
17 BROOKLYN AVE., LONG ISLAND, NY 56789 |
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EMPLOYMENT DATA REPORTED
Employer name:CREDITCARDS.COM Location:New York, NY Date reported:06/2011 Employer name:UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS Location:TX Date reported:08/2009 |
Position:PROGRAMMER Position: |
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Public records
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ROCKWELL MUNICIPAL Docket#: 9B004875
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5468 MLK AVE., SUITE 300, ROCKWELL, TX 97845
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Type:Civil judgment
Court type:Municipal Date paid:07/2008 Assets:$1,089 |
Date filed:12/2007
Responsibility:Participant on account Plaintiff:BANK OF TEXAS Plaintiff attorney:RICHARD PERRY Amount:$1,089 |
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Estimated date that this item will be removed06/2015
NOTE: This section will only list financial data; no arrests or criminal activities
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Adverse accounts, potentially negative items
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COLLECTION RECOVERY SVC#321568
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123 CHARLES ST.
SUITE 202 CORONA, CA 92877-0137 (909) 898-4424 |
Balance:$0
Date verified:06/2007 Original balance:$243 Original creditor:SEARS ROEBUCK Credit limit:$500 Past due:$0 Terms:$72 for 23 months |
Pay status:Payment after charge off/collection
Account type:Installment account Responsibility:Individual account Date opened:03/2004 Date closed:05/2010 Date paid:05/2010 |
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Remarks: >Paid collection<
Estimated date that this item will be removed:08/2014 |
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DONOVAN & WILSON
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1045 MAIN ST., SUITE 105
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501 (909) 781-1248 |
Balance:$12,745
Date updated:06/2008 Original balance:$15,243 |
Pay status:120 days
past due Account type:Revolving account Responsibility:Individual account |
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Estimated date that this item will be removed:06/2014
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The following item is suppressed pending credit grantor update:
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SVC#6053000570658798 |
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123 SMITH AVE.
UNIT 55G WILMINGTON,DE 19850-5316 Phone number not available |
Balance:$2,145
Date updated:08/2008 High balance:$25,463 Collateral:2002Chevy:Past due:$136 Terms:$68 for 260 months |
Pay status:60 days past due
Account type:Installment account Responsibility:Individual account Date opened:11/1998 |
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Loan type:Student loan
Remarks:Repossession Maximum delinquency of 60 days in 07/2008 for $400 Estimated date that this item will be removed:06/2014 |
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Accounts in good standing, satisfactory accounts
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GMAC FINANCING#640006137129
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78901 JENKINS CIR
FLOOR 15 MIAMI,FL 33025 Phone number not available |
Balance:$1,145
Date updated:08/2013 High balance:$10,000 Collateral:2008 Dodge Ram Credit limit:$10,000 Past due:$0 Terms:$295 for36 months |
Pay status:Pays as agreed Account type:Installment account
Responsibility:Individual account Date opened:11/2009 Date closed:11/2012 Date paid:11/2012 |
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Loan type:Automobile
Remarks:Paid by insurance Estimated date that this item will be removed:12/2013 |
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Credit history requests
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CALTECH EMPLOYEE FCU
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555 W. ADAMS
SUITE 202 LA CANADA, CA 91012 (818) 555-1212 |
Requested on:11/01/2013
Inquiry type:Individual |
Permissible purpose:Credit transaction
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SUNSHINE APARTMENTS via RENTPORT
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678 MARINE STREET
SUITE 999 LOS ANGELES, CA 90210 (818) 555-1212 |
Requested on:05/01/2013
Inquiry type:Individual Loan type:Real estate Loan amount:$90,000 |
Permissible purpose:Tenant screening
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CHASE CARD MEMBER SVCS
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666 W. SMITH
PHOENIX, AZ 87853 Phone number not available |
Requested on:11/01/2013
Inquiry type:Individual |
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Personal statement
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ID SECURITY ALERT: FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED IN MY NAME OR MY IDENTITY MAY HAVE BEEN USED WITHOUT MY CONSENT TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN GOODS OR SERVICES. DO NOT EXTEND CREDIT WITHOUT FIRST VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF THE APPLICANT. I CAN BE REACHED AT 917-555-1212. THIS SECURITY ALERT WILL BE MAINTAINED FOR 90 DAYS BEGINNING 10-29-13.
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NOTE ABOUT INQUIRIES:
Any time anyone gets into the report, it'll post an inquiry. If you call the credit bureau and ask for a copy, it will be on there. It's a very detailed entry record. It's great for the consumer.
Inquiries are divided into two sections. “Hard” inquiries are ones you initiate by filling out a credit application or taking your child to the orthodontist. “Soft” inquiries are from companies that want to send out promotional information to a pre-qualified group or current creditors who are monitoring your account. The soft inquiries are only shown on reports given to consumers. You may have heard that a large number of inquiries can have a negative impact on your credit score, and that's true.
However, the FICO scores have at least a 30-day buffer period where auto and mortgage inquiries are initially bypassed and not counted. It also counts two or more “hard” inquiries in the same 14-day period as just one inquiry.
FIXING MISTAKES:
There's a change you may find a mistake in your credit report. One in five consumers had an error on their credit report from the three major credit bureaus, according to a 2013 government study. One in 20 had an error so bad that it cost them more money on loans or insurance.
If you find a mistake — such as an account that isn't yours or an erroneous amount — you'll need to dispute it with the credit bureau. The reports list a Web address for the credit bureaus' online dispute form; DO NOT USE THIS.
The credit bureaus will investigate your dispute by contacting the creditors, which have 30-45 days to respond to your dispute. The disputed item will show up as disputed on your credit report until it's resolved. If you feel your dispute is not handled well, you can file an online complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will help facilitate the dispute process.
Common Methods to Dispute A Debt
Not mine or not my account.
I didn't pay late that month.
Wrong amount.
Wrong account number.
Wrong original creditor.
Wrong charge-off date.
Wrong date of last activity.
Wrong balance.
Wrong credit limit.
Wrong status – there are over 20 of these.
Wrong high credit – the highest amount you used.
I didn't pay late that month.
Wrong amount.
Wrong account number.
Wrong original creditor.
Wrong charge-off date.
Wrong date of last activity.
Wrong balance.
Wrong credit limit.
Wrong status – there are over 20 of these.
Wrong high credit – the highest amount you used.
Be Persistent.
Do not bombard credit bureau with letters about the same debt; they will deem this as frivolous and they will not need to verify or validate the debt
Be Assertive.
If professional help is needed; CONTACT ME RIGHT AWAY!!
