New Law Grants FREE Access to
Credit Reports
Thanks to a new law you are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Free access to credit reports is being granted regionally beginning with 13 western states and will be rolled-out to additional regions on a quarterly basis.
- Western Region: December 1, 2004
- Midwestern Region: March 1, 2005
- Southern Region: June 1, 2005
- Eastern Region: September 1, 2005
Why You Should Know What's in Your Reports
The information contained in your credit report affects your ability to get a loan – and how much you will have to pay to borrow money. It is a good idea to make sure the information contained in your credit report is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
More importantly, checking your credit report can help you to guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information – like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number – to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.
How to Order Your Free Credit Reports
Free credit reports can only be ordered by one of the following methods.
- Request online
- Visit the only authorized website, www.annualcreditreport.com
- Request by mail
- Print the Annual Credit Report Request Form
- Send the completed form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
- Request by phone
- Call 877-322-8228
States Included in Regional Rollouts
Western Region - December 1, 2004
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
Midwestern Region - March 1, 2005
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin
Southern Region - June 1, 2005
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas
Eastern Region - September 1, 2005
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, The District of Colombia and Puerto Rico
Additional Information
For additional information on this topic, please refer to the following sources.
