How to Get Your Free Credit Reports (and Check Them)

The only official source is AnnualCreditReport.com, and you can now check each bureau weekly.

By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 23, 2026

Your credit report is a record of accounts opened in your name. Checking it is one of the simplest ways to spot identity theft early. This guide follows the FTC’s consumer page on free credit reports.

Where to get them

The FTC says to order your free reports only through AnnualCreditReport.com, by phone at 1-877-322-8228, or by mailing the Annual Credit Report Request Form to P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Its advice is clear: do not contact the three credit bureaus individually.

The three bureaus

The three nationwide bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Each may hold slightly different information about you, so the FTC suggests reviewing all three reports.

How often

Two rules apply. First, each bureau lets you check your report weekly for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and the FTC says this program is permanently extended. Second, federal law entitles you to a free copy from each bureau once every 12 months. In practice, the weekly option means you can check as often as you like for free.

How long it takes

Online orders give immediate access. Phone and mail orders are processed and mailed within 15 days.

What to look for

The FTC recommends checking at least once a year and before you apply for credit, a loan, insurance, housing or a job. Read each report for:

• accounts or loans you do not recognise;
• addresses or employers you have never used;
• inquiries from lenders you did not contact;
• balances or late payments that are wrong;
• personal details that are incorrect, such as your name or date of birth.

The FTC warns that mistakes on a report might be a sign of identity theft.

If you find a problem

• Wrong or outdated information: dispute it. Our step-by-step guide on how to dispute errors on your credit report explains how.
• Signs of identity theft: report it at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a personalised recovery plan, and read what to do if your identity is stolen.
• Worried about new accounts: consider a freeze. See credit freeze vs fraud alert.

Beware of look-alikes

The FTC warns that AnnualCreditReport.com and the bureaus will not email you asking for your Social Security number or account information. Do not reply to or click links in unsolicited messages. Many websites use similar names and offer paid “free” reports, so type the address yourself.

A credit report is not a credit score

A report lists accounts and history. A score is a number calculated from that history. The free reports described here are the reports, not necessarily a score. You do not need a score to spot fraud.

A simple routine

1. Pick a regular date, such as the first of the month.
2. Order one bureau’s report, or all three if you are checking after a breach.
3. Compare accounts against your own records.
4. Note anything odd and act the same day.

Because you can check weekly, rotating between the three bureaus gives you regular coverage without paying for a monitoring service. Whether paid protection adds value is covered in is identity theft protection worth it.

After a data breach

If your Social Security number or other identifiers were exposed, a fresh set of reports is the first thing to check. See what to do if your Social Security number was leaked.