Extended deadline: check your credit report weekly for free
The three major credit bureaus have extended the period during which they provide free access to your credit reports.
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion announced that they will continue to provide consumers with access to free weekly credit reports until April 20, 2022.
This is a full year extension beyond the original free access period announced by credit bureaus shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under federal law, American consumers are entitled to only one free credit report per year.
How do I access my weekly credit reports?
You can get your weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
- Click on “Request your free credit reports”.
- Fill out the form, which asks for your personal information.
- Confirm your identity with each credit bureau.
- After verification, you will be redirected to your credit reports.
Once you have access to your report, carefully review each section. Make sure to research:
- Errors related to your personal information (name, address, etc.)
- Discrepancies relating to your payment history
- Active credit accounts that you think you have closed
“This is your chance to see what’s going on with these reports,” says financial expert Clark Howard. “And the sooner you see it, the faster you can do something to correct the mistake.”
What if I find an error on my credit report?
If you find that something is wrong with your credit report, there are two options you can choose to resolve the issue.
- Contact the company: If the error is related to a fairly recent incident, contact the company to remedy it.
- Contact the credit bureau: You can also contact the credit bureau reporting the error.
Many credit bureaus have online forms that you can fill out to make it easier to report an error. Here’s how to dispute an error on your credit report.
Final thought
Clark wants you to take advantage of free access to your credit reports because he is a big believer in monitoring your credit.
In addition to accessing your free credit reports on a weekly basis, Clark recommends that you set up free credit monitoring with Credit Karma or Credit Sesame, which are two great free resources.
Need help registering for Credit Karma or Credit Sésame?
Want to know more about accessing your financial information? Here are 5 ways to get your free credit score.