Where to Get Your Free Report
You're entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the federally mandated free source. Third-party sites that offer "free" reports often come with subscriptions or upsells.
Since reports may vary slightly across bureaus (not all lenders report to all three), review all three — ideally staggered through the year.
The Four Main Sections
1. Personal Information
Includes your name, current and past addresses, Social Security number (partial), date of birth, and employers. This information doesn't affect your score — but errors here can signal identity theft. Check for addresses you don't recognize or names that aren't yours (which could indicate a mixed file — your report merged with someone else's).
2. Accounts (Trade Lines)
The most important section. Lists every credit account in your name: credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, student loans. For each account:
- Account type and creditor name
- Date opened and credit limit or loan amount
- Current balance and payment status
- Payment history (typically shown month-by-month)
What to check: Is the balance accurate? Are there any late payments listed that you know you made on time? Are there accounts you don't recognize?
3. Inquiries
Lists all requests to view your credit:
- Hard inquiries: When you apply for credit — these can temporarily lower your score and stay on your report for 2 years
- Soft inquiries: When you check your own credit or a company checks for pre-approval — these don't affect your score
If you see hard inquiries you don't recognize, this could indicate someone opened credit in your name.
4. Public Records
Historically included bankruptcies, tax liens, and civil judgments. Major bureaus now only include bankruptcies (Chapter 7 stays 10 years; Chapter 13 stays 7 years).
How to Dispute Errors
If you find inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it for free. Each bureau has an online dispute portal:
- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/disputes
- Experian: experian.com/disputes
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-disputes
Submit your dispute with any supporting documentation. The bureau must investigate and respond within 30 days. If the information is inaccurate, it must be corrected or removed.