How can I get a copy of my credit report?
To obtain a copy of your credit report, simply call any of the credit reporting agencies listed below. You may also order your credit profile online through Equifax, Transunion and Experian. Reviewing your credit report prior to applying for a mortgage will give you the opportunity to identify and resolve any credit issues or discrepancies.
You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once every year. For a combined report from all three major bureaus, go to www.annualcreditreport.com. If you need your report more frequently than once per year, or if you need a report from only one of the bureaus, you may need to pay a fee. Another time when you are allowed to request a free credit bureau report is if you think you may be a victim of some kind of fraud, like identity theft. In this case, you should immediately contact the credit bureaus and ask them to issue a fraud alert on your account. It will take effect within 24 hours and is the first step in fighting fraud. This alert is good for 90 days, and no new credit accounts can be opened before a call is made to you. A fresh copy of your credit report will show you if any new accounts are opened.
