If you are wondering how to pull free credit reports, you have come to the right place. You are entitled to three free credit reports each year. Note that you are entitled to these free reports without having to pay for a subscription, and without having to sign up for any product or service with any company. By visiting www.annualcreditreport.com, you can pull these free credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus. The three bureaus that participate and provide this service are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. In order to pull the free reports, you must provide your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.
You have the right to receive a free report from each of the three bureaus on a 12-month rotational schedule. This means that if you pull a report from all three bureaus all at the same time, you must wait for one full year until you can pull any free reports again. However, an advisable practice, and what debtor-creditor lawyer Joseph Battaglia recommends to his clients, is to pull the free reports on a triannual (note, not triennial) schedule, by pulling your reports in the manner described below:
- Pull your first free credit report from one bureau, it doesn’t matter which.
- Wait four months, and pull a free credit report from another bureau.
- Wait four more months, and pull a free credit report from the last bureau.
- After four more months pass, it will have been a full year from when you pulled your first free credit report, and, thus, you will then be eligible to receive a free report again, from the first bureau you pulled from.
Sample Schedule for Pulling Free Credit Reports
- January – Equifax
- May – Experian
- September – TransUnion
- repeat, to infinity and beyond
Note that when you obtain free credit reports through this process, they will not contain a credit score. But if you are pulling your credit so that you can regularly monitor for any irregularities, identity theft, or to assist you with filing a bankruptcy, then a credit score is not needed. If you are experiencing issues with debts that are appearing on your report, a Florida consumer lawyer at Battaglia Law, PLLC may be able to help you. Contact the firm today for a consultation.