Since 2005, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has mandated that consumers are entitled to one free credit report a year from the three major credit bureaus. To comply with this new law, the three major credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and Transunion pooled their resources to create a website which allows you to get your free credit report from all three agencies in one place. The name of that website is www.annualcreditreport.com.
However, since the new federal law went into effect, there has been some general confusion as to how and where exactly one acquires one's "free" credit score. It is important to understand that the official website created by the three agencies, is, in fact, the way to get your free credit report from the three major credit bureaus. Even if you contact the credit bureaus directly, they are entitled to charge you for your individual credit report. Your free annual credit report is available easily online.
There are other websites with names like "Free credit report" or the like, which look like the official site, and which will offer you a credit report if you sign up for their services. However, these sites are private businesses and are usually not affiliated with the three credit bureaus. Often, these are private services which may require you to pay a subscription fee before accessing your "free" credit report. If you choose to take advantage of some of the subscription services offered by these sites, that is your choice. However, you should be aware that the official site will not ask you for any money whatsoever.
It's important to be an informed credit consumer and know your credit score. However, you should also be alert to any online scams or misleading information. Be sure you know who you are doing business with before you give any website your credit card number or any sensitive personal information which might be used in identity theft.
