How to View Your Annual Government Credit Report
To get a fair treatment and prevent identity theft, the government offers each US consumer one free credit report every year. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) helps US citizens stay up to date with their credit scoring.
How to get your free government credit report
The report can be ordered through a centralized service set up by the three reporting agencies. You can ask for it online, from annualcreditreport.com, over the phone at 1-877-322-8228 or by filling out a form and mailing it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Addressing a credit reporting agency directly
Equifax, TransUnion or Experian, as well as affiliated agencies can issue scoring reports as per your request, but you are likely to be charged for it. The only free one is the yearly government credit report, which can be received through the means outlined above.
As a side note, you should keep an eye out for “imposter” websites that claim to offer free credit reports but charge hidden fees. Their most common misleading practice is to make you sign up for a paid service which offers a trial period. If you forget to cancel your subscription, you will be billed for their services which, most often, will cost more than what you regularly would pay for a regular, non-free credit report.
The information you will have to provide
Standard information needs to be given when asking for the free government credit report. You will have to provide your name, current address, social security number and date of birth. If you have moved within the last few years, you will also need to mention your former addresses. As a measure of security, you will also be asked for a couple of sensitive details that you alone are supposed to know, like the amount of a certain payment you have recently made (and appears on your credit record), or your mother’s maiden name.
How long it should take?
If you requested your government credit report online, you should be able to access it immediately. If you asked for it over the phone, it will be processed and mailed to you within 15 days. If you ordered your report by snail mail, you will hear back within 15 days of the receipt of your letter, or a reasonable time after. Should there be any delays (like due to high volumes currently in processing), the consumer reporting agencies will let you know.