# Credit report - aren't I entitled to a freebie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000 "2003-03-25T12:02:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![frobozz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed8c4c/32.png) [@frobozz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frobozz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/1 "2003-03-25T12:02:55Z")
It has become necessary for me to check my credit report. The last time I did so, I discovered that my state (New Jersey) law req ---
**Author:** ![frobozz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed8c4c/32.png) [@frobozz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frobozz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/2 "2003-03-25T12:04:29Z")
Sorry about that… The last time I checked my credit report, I did so for free because some provision in the law allows me to get a free report every so often. However, I find no mention of that at any of the credit bureau’s websites. Anyone know what’s up with that? Thanks in advance. Frobozz ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/3 "2003-03-25T12:19:55Z")
It seems to me that anytime someone requests a copy of your report (IE: a bank, credit card company, future landlord, etc) you are entitled to a copy yourself. ---
**Author:** ![frobozz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed8c4c/32.png) [@frobozz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frobozz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/4 "2003-03-25T12:27:33Z")
The specific circumstances are: My wife visited the ER after a fainting spell a few months ago. Although she uses her maiden name for all purposes, the hospital refused to admit her unless it was under my name. OK, whatever. Now, her insurance company is dragging their feet paying the hospital because of the ‘identity confusion,’ and the hospital has turned me over to collection. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/5 "2003-03-25T12:36:22Z")
Just call the automated lines for each of the three credit agencies and order a free copy of your report (you are entitled to one BTW in this case). TransUnion 800-680-7289 Equifax 800-525-6285 Experian 888-397-3742. It takes about ten minutes total. I did it last week for giggles and already have my reports. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/6 "2003-03-25T12:44:52Z")
IIRC, you can get one free copy every twelve months. If you are a victim of fraud, you can override that. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/7 "2003-03-25T13:44:25Z")
Oops, Sorry. Those numbers that I listed above take you to the fraud division of the agencies. The correct numbers to order a (free) copy of your reports are: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 Experian: (800) 311-4769 TransUnion: (800) 888-4213 ---
**Author:** ![frobozz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ed8c4c/32.png) [@frobozz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frobozz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/8 "2003-03-25T13:53:21Z")
Thanks, everyone. One other question: when I speak to the insurance company, I intend to demand that they be responsible for having this removed from my credit report, as it is their lack of timely action that got me into this mess (seceral times they assured me it would be taken care of, and it wasn’t). Can they even do that, or can it only be removed by the collection agency? Or the hospital? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/9 "2003-03-25T14:08:05Z")
The collection agency must remove the items they placed on the report. If the collection agency broke laws, libelled, slandered, etc, remember that you can sue the hospital as well because the collection agency acted as the agent of the hospital. By the way, the collection agency WILL tell you that the best that they can do is mark it “Paid Collection” which hurts your credit well nigh as bad as an unpaid collection. Do NOT accept “Paid Collection”. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/10 "2003-03-25T14:10:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frobozz \* > \*\*Sorry about that… > The last time I checked my credit report, I did so for free because some provision in the law allows me to get a free report every so often. However, I find no mention of that at any of the credit bureau’s websites. Anyone know what’s up with that? > \*\* These credit reporting bureau websites deliberately conceal the fact that annual credit reports must be provided free to many, many people. I had to go through about 7-8 screens until a back-end screen told me, in inconspicuous typeface, that my credit report would be free. IMO, this is fraud itself. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-report-arent-i-entitled-to-a-freebie/164000/11 "2003-03-25T14:12:05Z")
Actually, it depends on the state you live in. Many state laws allow you to receive one free credit report per year, but some don’t. Also, any time you’re denied credit you’re entitled to a free credit report _after the fact_.