Applying for an annual credit report from each of the three credit bureaus it’s a good idea. Not only do you get to check that the information maintained by the credit bureaus is accurate but also keep a check on possible fraudulent activities. Since so make decisions by so many different people are based on the information present on your annual credit report, it is a good idea to maintain up-to-date information on it. Getting approved for loans, getting employment, getting a house on rent as well as getting utility services could all be dependent upon the information in your annual credit report.

Many people are still under the impression that in order to get an annual credit report, they will have to purchase it from credit bureaus or a third-party website who sell credit files. However this is not true. The new federal law under the FCRA uses each person the right to access a free copy of this annual credit report once in 12 months from each of the three credit bureaus Experiain, TransUnion and Equifax. You can get your free annual credit report from Experian, TransUnion and Equifax by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the only government approved website that gives you your free annual government credit report.

This should not confuse you to think that this annual credit report is provided by the government. The website of www.annualcreditreport.com is maintained jointly by the three credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. You can request your annual credit report from each of these three major national credit bureaus all at the same time or you can stagger your requests every four months so that you are constantly able to review the information all throughout the year.

In order to obtain your Free Annual Credit report you do not have to contact the credit bureau separately. The free annual credit reports are all available from one website which is annualcreditreport.com. You can access your free annual credit reports at no cost provided you make one request for each annual credit report from each credit bureau once in 12 months.

Consumers also have the right to access their annual credit at no cost in other circumstances even if they have already ordered the stipulated free FCRA annual credit report.

A) Consumers can get a free annual credit report if they have had credit  denied to them in the past 60 days based on the information on the credit report.

B) They can get a free annual credit report if they are currently unemployed and intend to look for employment in the next 90 days.

C) You can also get a free annual credit report if you are currently on welfare services.

Reviewing your annual credit report will make sure that still information on your credit file is accurate and that it hasn’t been compromised to be used for fraudulent activities.