How to Get a Free Credit Report
4 Min Read | Last updated: February 16, 2024
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
Enroll with American Express® MyCredit Guide to track your FICO® Score for free, or you can request a copy of your credit report from 3 credit bureaus once a year.
At-A-Glance
- Every American is entitled to one free annual credit report from each credit bureau.
- Some services like American Express® MyCredit Guide also allow users to access their FICO® Score and Experian® credit report. (FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.)
- Reviewing your free credit report can help you report errors and see how your credit behavior is reported.
Your credit affects multiple aspects of your life, from housing to employment.1,2 That’s why it’s important to understand your credit score, as well as what’s on your credit report. When you have a handle on your credit report, you can take steps to fix any errors, strengthen your report, and potentially bolster your credit score in the future. But the first step is making the decision to access your credit report.
How You Can Get a Free Credit Report
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the three nationwide credit reporting bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian—to each make available a free credit report to you every year.3 But even though you have the right to a free credit report, many online companies charge for information that includes access to your credit report.4 That’s why it’s key to make sure you use a provider that offers free credit reports without any fees attached.
MyCredit Guide gives you free access to your monthly Experian credit report, in addition to services that allow you to view your credit score, build credit report alerts to protect your credit accounts from fraud and identity theft, and see what you can do to improve your credit score.
Who Provides Free Credit Reports?
Sometimes, companies that have a fee associated with credit report access offer additional services and benefits, such as credit monitoring.4 But your bank or credit card may also offer free credit reports, with the same services.4
American Express MyCredit Guide is a free service that allows you to view your FICO® Score and Experian® credit report. Once you enroll with MyCredit Guide, your free credit score and credit report will be available for you to view at any time. To help you boost your credit knowledge, you’ll also have access to tools like FICO® Score Simulator and FICO® Score Planner to help you build positive credit habits that support a healthy credit score.
Why a Credit Report Matters
Put simply, a credit report is one way lenders assess your history as a borrower.2 Your credit report has several categories of information, which are reported to credit bureaus by lenders.2 Lenders may not necessarily report to all three companies, so there may be some discrepancies between the credit reports from the three credit bureaus.1 Your credit reports may also differ depending on when lenders file information to the bureaus.1
Your credit report includes:1
- Personal information. This information may include former names, addresses, employers, and any public records, such as bankruptcy declarations.
- Current and past loans. Your credit report will include companies that may have extended loans to you, loan amounts, or payment history.
- Credit history. Your credit report will show a history of your credit, even if loans have been paid off or discharged.
- Credit inquiries. If you’ve applied for a credit card or loan in the past two years, these will appear on your credit report, even if the application was denied.6
- Bankruptcies, settlements, and delinquencies. Late payments, debt settlements, and bankruptcies will be included on your report, often for as long as ten years.7
Did you know? As an added security measure to help protect against fraud, American Express reports a reference number to credit bureaus – instead of your actual account number.
In short, your credit report is a snapshot of your financial history—and can be a way for a lender to assess how risky it would be to take you on as a borrower.1 A short credit history, a credit report with late payments or bankruptcy, or a lot of credit inquiries in a short time may be red flags to lenders.
Why You Should Check Your Free Credit Report
While a credit report is a tool to help assess your creditworthiness, it’s also a good idea to look at your credit report regularly. Here’s why it’s smart to check your credit report.
- Protect against identity theft
- Regularly scanning your credit report is one way to ensure that no accounts have been opened with your personal information.3 To safeguard your identity even further, you may consider signing up for a credit monitoring service as well.
- Correct any errors
- Sometimes, credit reports contain errors. This could be an erroneous name, address, or account information.8 If you do see an error on your credit report, you can submit an investigation request to the credit bureau and the business that has submitted the error.9 The credit bureau and business will investigate, issue your results, and may update your credit report accordingly. Removal of errors can also immediately increase your credit score.
- Understand your financial status
- Your credit report, along with your credit score, may be used by landlords, lenders, and even employers in certain states.1,2 By regularly looking at your credit report, you can understand what loan and credit card offers may be made available to you.
- Add context to your credit history
- If there is something that could be considered a black mark on your credit report—such as a bankruptcy filing or debt settlement—you can attach a 100-word explanation to your report that details the circumstances surrounding the incident.10
- To see patterns and make future plans
- Your credit report can be a valuable resource to see any financial habits you may have fallen into, letting you build a plan for the future. For example, if you have open credit lines across multiple cards, you may wish to make a debt consolidation plan to pay off high-interest debt. If you have a history of late payments, you may need to come up with a better budgeting strategy to ensure you can pay the bills on time.
Free Credit Report from MyCredit Guide
Planning for your financial future? MyCredit Guide is a free, easy-to-use credit-monitoring service. Enroll now and enjoy access to your FICO® Score, detailed monthly reports, personalized offers, and much more.
- FICO® Score. Enroll in MyCredit Guide to access your FICO® Score any time. It’s free, easy to use, and won’t impact or lower your credit score.11
- FICO® Score Simulator. FICO® Score Simulator to help you assess the possible impact of financial choices before you make them.
At the end of the day, knowledge is power. Accessing your free credit report is a smart strategy for taking control of your financial story.
1 “What is a credit score?,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
2 “Learn about your credit report and how to get a copy,” USA.gov
3 “Free Credit Reports,” FTC
4 “Do I have to pay for my credit score?,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
5 “What is a credit report?,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
6 “Understanding Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Report,” Equifax
7 “How Long Does It Take for Information to Come Off Your Credit Reports?,” Experian
8 “Dispute errors on your credit report,” USA.gov
9 “Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports,” FTC
10 “How can I add a consumer statement to my profile?,” HelpWithMyBank.gov
11 “What's a credit inquiry?,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Anna Davies is a writer and content marketing strategist who specializes in the personal finance space. Bylines have appeared in New York, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and others.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
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