# Checking Your Credit

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-your-credit/651941>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 3, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-your-credit/651941 "2013-03-03T21:43:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-your-credit/651941/1 "2013-03-03T21:43:27Z")

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Is this site legit? www.annualcredit [report.com](http://report.com)

It bills itself as the “official” site to check with the three credit reporting agencies. Before submitting my personal information I’d like to know this isn’t a scam.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-your-credit/651941/2 "2013-03-03T22:02:48Z")

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Bad link, but yes, annualcreditreport dot com is the legit one, set up by the three major reporting companies to supply people with the free credit report they’re entitled to under federal law.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/checking-your-credit/651941/3 "2013-03-03T22:20:38Z")

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Maybe this will help:

> [@](#):
>
> The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies.
> 
> – snip –
> 
> The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.
> 
> To order, visit [annualcreditreport.com](http://www.annualcreditreport.com/), call 1-877-322-8228. Or complete the [Annual Credit Report Request Form](http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf) and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit reports only through [annualcreditreport.com](http://www.annualcreditreport.com/), 1-877-322-8228 or mailing to Annual Credit Report Request Service.

[Free Credit Reports | Consumer Advice](http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports)