Do I have a right to a free copy of my credit report?

What the Law Says

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives consumers the right to access their credit information at no cost under specific conditions.

The FCRA is a federal law designed to promote accuracy, fairness, and privacy in how consumer credit information is collected and used. It requires credit reporting agencies to provide consumers with access to their own credit files.

While the statute text provided — 15 U.S.C. § 1681 — states the congressional findings and purpose of the FCRA, the specific right to a free annual credit report comes from a later amendment: the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) of 2003, which added § 1681j to Title 15. That provision mandates that each nationwide credit bureau must provide a free credit report once every 12 months upon request.

This right applies to the three major consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You may obtain your free reports all at once or separately throughout the year.

Statutory Text

Congress finds that— (1) consumer reporting agencies have assumed a vital role in assembling and evaluating consumer credit and other information on consumers; (2) there is a need to ensure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumer's right to privacy; ...

— Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 — Congressional findings and statement of purpose

What to Do

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