There is only one website that offers completely free annual credit report as laid down in consumer rights by the Federal law. This website is www.annualcreditreport.com and is jointly maintained by all three national credit bureaus Experian, Trans union and Equifax. Apart from this website you will find several other websites that offer to give you a free annual credit report. The following is a comparison of the kind of offers you receive online to access your free annual credit report.

What’s the catch of ordering a free credit report online?

Most of the websites that offer you a free credit report are offering you a limited trial offer of credit monitoring service. This free trial could last a week or for 30 days. During this trial offer he will be able to view your credit report freely but in case you forget to cancel in the trial period your credit card will be charged for the next month. There may be other terms and conditions as well so he should read the fine text carefully before signing up for any offer for a free credit report specially the one that requires you to provide your credit card number or personal details such as your social security number.

What is a trial period for trying out a free credit report?

The trial period for a credit monitoring service anything from 7 to 30 days. During this time you can use the credit monitoring service to view your credit report and try out their identity theft services. If you do not cancel out the culprit is over your credit card will be charged for the next billing cycle. The cost of such offers online usually ranges from $10-$30.

Limitation of the Free Trial Offer

the Limitation of such an offer is that once you’ve tried out the free trial of a certain credit monitoring service he will not be able to take advantage of the same free trial again. So in case you intend to check your credit report by signing up for a trial period you will only be able to do it once. Another limitation can be the number of credit bureau is that it provides the credit report from. Ideally you want to view fear of credit reports from all of three credit bureaus that is Experian, Equifax and Trans union. The free trial offer may or may not offer that.