Credit reports are now permanently free once a week, according to Equifax
Credit reports are now permanently free once a week, according to Equifax
You Can Now Get Your Credit Reports for Free Every Week
Before the pandemic, consumers were only able to access their credit reports for free once per year. That limited access is now a thing of the past.
On September 18, the three largest nationwide credit reporting agencies (NCRAs)—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—announced that they will permanently offer free credit reports every week.
These credit bureaus are required by federal law to provide one free report per year, but in 2020 they began offering weekly access to help consumers deal with pandemic-related financial hardships. This benefit was extended multiple times and was originally set to expire at the end of 2023—until this latest announcement made it permanent.
In their joint press release, the CEOs of the three credit bureaus said they recognize the important role that credit reports play in people’s financial lives and encouraged consumers to monitor their credit regularly.
Why Checking Your Credit More Often Matters
According to TransUnion’s second-quarter Consumer Pulse Study, 43% of people monitor their credit less than once a month.
Reviewing your credit reports more frequently helps you:
- Catch fraud early
- Dispute inaccurate information
- Track improvements to your financial health
- Protect yourself from identity theft
How to Get Your Free Credit Reports
You can request your weekly free credit reports through the Annual Credit Report Request Service using any of the following methods:
Online
AnnualCreditReport.com
By Phone
1-877-322-8228
By Mail
Send a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
What About Your Credit Scores?
While accessing credit reports is now easier than ever, finding your actual credit scores can still be a challenge.
Here are a few options:
- Many lenders and credit card issuers provide free access to one of your scores.
- Use FICO’s free score estimator to get a range of where your score might fall.
- Sign up for free credit score monitoring through FICO and Experian.