By law, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the national credit reporting companies. Under certain circumstances, you may also be entitled to additional free reports within a 12-month window. For details, visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1‑877‑322‑8228.
The three major national credit reporting companies (CRCs) – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – collect information about your borrowing and repayment behavior from lenders and businesses that have extended you credit. This information is compiled into a credit report. You can obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the three companies for a fee. You are also entitled to a free copy within 60 days of being denied credit from the CRC that supplied the lender with your report.
You may contact each company by clicking its name:
Several organizations within the federal government make information available about credit reports and credit scores, including the following:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
The following websites provide VantageScore credit scores when you register for free services including credit management tips. Some also offer optional paid services, and/or display advertisements for credit card offerings based on your credit scores.
While commercial credit repair companies are often expensive and ineffective, credit counseling programs, designed to help you build (or rebuild) a healthy credit file, can be extremely helpful. Here are some good resources for locating such services.