How to Get a Credit Report

If you have been reading about the various methods that you can use to repair your credit, then you understand that your first step in the process will be to obtain a copy of your credit report. For more information, see our article What is in a Credit Report.

Luckily, getting a copy of your credit report isn't difficult, but you should know that there are clear-cut methods that the credit report agencies expect you to follow, and not doing so will only drag out the process.

You May Be Eligible for a Free Credit Report

First of all, it is possible to get a copy of your credit report without having to pay the fees associated with the process. You qualify for a free copy of your credit report if you meet any of the following criteria:

If you a recipient of public welfare or other governmental assistance
If you are unemployed and plan to apply for a job within 60 days
If you have been a victim of fraud and believe that there is inaccurate information on your report because of it
If you have been denied credit, employment or insurance during the past 60 days.
If you are a resident of Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey or Vermont, you are allowed one free copy one time per year. If you life in Georgia, you are permitted two free credit reports per year.
If you have received the first copy of your credit report, found inaccuracies on it, and have sent a letter asking for them to be removed. This will automatically allow you to receive a free copy of your report to check and see if the mistakes have been taken off your report.

If you don't qualify for a free credit report, you can request one from one of the credit bureaus for about $9.

So, how do you get your hands on your credit report?

First, you'll need to write a letter of request to each of the three credit reporting agencies (see below for their contact information) These agencies require very specific information, and if you do not provide all of it, or provide inaccurate information, they will send you a letter asking you for it again, prolonging the process. The information you will need to send includes:

Your full name
Your birth date
Your social security number
A copy of your social security card
The address where you live now
All of the addresses you've lived in the past five years
A copy of your driver's license (that shows your current address)

It is possible that the credit bureau will ask you for even more information, and if they do, be sure to send it as soon as possible to avoid any delays. You will receive the requested credit reports from all three agencies within 10 to 30 days.

Ready to get started? Here's the contact information for the three credit bureaus.

Experian
P.O. Box 919
Allen, Tx 75013
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

Trans Union
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213
www.transunion.com

Equifax Credit Information Services
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-800-685-1111
www.equifax.com

Summary

If you meet one of several criteria, you are eligible for a free credit report
If you have to shell out for a report, it will be around $9
When you request a report, send in all of the information the request, every single bit, no kidding!
A report will take 10-30 days to arrive

Now that you know how to get your credit report, take a look at our must-read step-by-step guide called How to Fix Your Credit Report.