The Right to Access Your Free Credit Report (cont.)
Contributed by Jessie Hart
Free Credit Report: How to Go About Getting Yours
A free credit report can be obtained from any or all of the three national credit reporting companies. These companies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. More information about obtaining a copy of your credit report can be found by visiting these companies' web sites. You could request copies from all three at once, or from only one or two. Each of the companies get their information from various sources, so they will not all be exactly the same.
You will be required to fill out a form that will include information such as name, birthdate, social security number and a personal question that only you would know the answer to. This is to ensure confidentiality.
Requesting a copy of your report online should provide you with instant access. However, if you order by phone, you will receive it within 15 days. There are periods of time when credit reporting companies become so inundated by requests for copies of credit reports that it takes longer than usual for your report to get into your hands. If circumstances arise which would cause this delay, the credit reporting company should let you know.
