Overview
Your credit report plays a key role in your financial health, affecting loan approvals, interest rates, and more. It’s important to regularly review your credit report for accuracy and take action if you find errors or signs of fraud.
How to Access Your Credit Report
You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. Some credit bureaus may offer additional free reports or monitoring services.
To request your credit report, visit:
➡ AnnualCreditReport.com
➡ Call 1-877-322-8228
In addition, there are many other companies that allow you to monitor your credit reports for free throughout the year via soft inquiries.
How to Correct Errors on Your Credit Report
If you find incorrect information on your credit report, you can dispute errors directly with the credit bureaus. Each bureau has an online dispute process:
Contact the Credit Reporting Agencies to Dispute Errors
Experian
📞 Phone: 1-888-397-3742
🌐 Website: www.experian.com
TransUnion
📞 Phone: 1-800-916-8800
🌐 Website: www.transunion.com
Equifax
📞 Phone: 1-888-548-7878
🌐 Website: www.equifax.com
When filing a dispute, provide supporting documentation such as account statements, identity verification, or payment records. The credit bureau will open a credit report dispute and provide a response, typically within 30 days.
How to Prevent Credit Fraud
To protect your credit from fraud or identity theft:
✔ Set up fraud alerts – You can request a free fraud alert from any credit bureau, which requires lenders to take extra verification steps.
✔ Freeze your credit – A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name.
✔ Monitor your accounts – Regularly check your credit report and bank statements for unauthorized activity.
✔ Use identity theft protection – Some services monitor for suspicious activity and provide alerts.
If you suspect you are the victim of identity theft, report it immediately to the credit bureaus, the creditor of the account, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov.