Monitoring your credit history regularly reduces the likelihood that reporting errors (best case) or identity theft (worst case) will derail your financial health—and you can now do this at no cost every single week, indefinitely, through Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, each credit bureau offered one free credit report per year, meaning consumers generally could obtain three reports annually before having to pay as much as $14 per request. Those same reports were made available weekly at no additional charge in early 2020, a program that was extended several times, ultimately through December 2023.
Now, free access to weekly credit reports has been made permanent so it’s easier to monitor your report regularly. While you probably don’t need to request multiple reports every week, you should be reviewing your credit monthly (quarterly at a minimum) or whenever you’re applying for financing.
How to get your free weekly credit report
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Free credit reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com via an online form. You’ll need to provide some basic information, such as your name, Social Security number, birth date, and address(es), as well as select the bureau you wish to get your report from and answer a handful of security verification questions.
Alternatively, you can submit a downloadable form by mail or call 1-877-322-8228 to verify your request by phone.
Note that your credit report does not include your credit score. Many credit card companies provide customers with credit scores at no charge, though keep in mind that there are different scoring models used by lenders.
What to look for on your credit report
There are a handful of errors that may appear on your credit report, including inaccurate or incomplete information:
- Identity errors, such as the wrong name or address
- Incorrect account information
- Incorrect account status, such as closed accounts that are reported as open or up-to-date accounts reported as late or delinquent
- Duplicate accounts
- Balance errors, such as an incorrect current balance or credit limit
If you come across an error, you should dispute it immediately, as it can take time to remedy.