{"id":1478,"date":"2019-12-20T20:52:03","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T20:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/?p=1478"},"modified":"2020-07-22T16:46:00","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T16:46:00","slug":"how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-credit-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.consumerslaw.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-credit-report\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Copy of Your Credit Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Credit<\/p>\n

Just as a yearly check-up with your doctor is good for your physical health, taking an annual look at your credit report<\/a> is good for your financial well-being.<\/p>\n

Consumers are entitled to receive one \u00a0free copy of their credit report every 12 months<\/strong> from each of the three main consumer reporting agencies – – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.<\/p>\n

\"CreditYou can request your reports in one of three ways:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Visit:\u00a0\u00a0AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Call:\u00a0877-322-8228<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Print the form on the website listed above and mail the completed form to:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Credit Report Request Service<\/strong>
    \nP.O. Box 105281<\/strong>
    \nAtlanta, GA 30348-5281<\/strong><\/p>\n

    You will be asked to provide two forms of identification, such as a current driver\u2019s license, paystub or utility bill, to get your reports.<\/p>\n

    Request your report from each Transunion, Experian and Equifax.\u00a0 You may get all three reports at once or request them individually. By doing it separately \u2013 getting, say, one report every four months \u2013 you can keep tabs on your credit throughout the year.<\/p>\n

    Why do I need to check my credit report?<\/h2>\n

    \"ManWhen you apply for credit for things such as a car loan or a new credit card, your lender will use your report to gauge your creditworthiness.<\/p>\n

    Credit furnishers, such as lenders, credit card companies and debt collectors submit account updates to Transunion, Experian and Equifax .\u00a0 However, not all information is updated by all bureaus at the same time of the month. This means your information may vary from report to report.<\/p>\n

    Nevertheless, it\u2019s important to stay on top of your credit report. Negative information \u2013 such as late payments, collections or judgments — can harm your chances of getting approved for new credit, especially when it can remain on your file for up to 7 1\/2 years.<\/p>\n

    Remember, before applying for new credit, check all three credit reports for accuracy.\u00a0 If there is an error, get it corrected immediately.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let inaccurate information keep you from getting the loan you want with the most favorable credit terms.<\/p>\n

    \"ManWhat errors should I look for on my credit report?<\/h2>\n

    Once you get a copy of your report, the first thing to do is to make sure you recognize all the accounts listed. If there is a listing you don’t recognize, write to the creditor and the credit bureau to dispute the listing and request documentation related to the account. You may be a victim of identity theft.<\/p>\n

    Some errors to keep an eye out for include:<\/strong><\/p>\n