Your Rights to Receive and Correct Your Credit Reports

Under Federal law, you have a right to receive one free credit report (but not your credit score) from each of the “Big Three” credit reporting agencies: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.  Use the centralized request service for your requests:  www.annualcreditreport.com  or call 877-322-8228 or download the Request Form at www.ftc.gov/credit and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. 

Additionally, you can get another free report every twelve months if you are unemployed and will apply for a job in the next 60 days; or you are receiving public assistance; or you have reason to believe that your report is inaccurate.

You have the right to dispute the information in your credit report and to make sure that it is accurate and up to date.  Don't be fooled by businesses who claim that they can, for a fee, clear away all undesirable entries in your report.  There is no magic wand.  Exercising your rights could improve (even if it doesn't magically beautify) your credit report and, correspondingly, your credit score.  Learn more and make sure that the credit reporting agencies are responsive to your requests.