Here are the step by step instructions on how to use AnnualCreditReport.com!!
Start here -
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jspThis is for Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
select your state.
You'll need to know your personal information including SS #. Make sure it is https:// at the top.
select all 3 agencies and go to next
You will now be launched OFF SITE one at a time. Pay attention to having to "return" here after each step!
TransUnion is first.
I already had an account here so it had me log in to it.
They'll try to have you tag on additional services - ignore those and continue
they try to get you to sign up for their newsletter - say no thanks
they want you to order a credit "score" - say no. It's $7.95 here (as of July 2008)
They summarize the order - i.e. FREE. Hit next.
Now they give you a one LONG page credit report. In the top left is Printer Friendly Version. Click that.
Print this out. You can get it for free online for one month after this moment. Check it for inaccuracies, then file it somewhere safe. Mine was 8 pages long.
When you are sure you are done with this report, click on RETURN TO ANNUALCREDITREPORT.COM in the top menu bar. You get a warning that you're leaving TransUnion.
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Now AnnualCreditReport says you are moving along to Experian. Hit NEXT to go there. You get another warning page that you are leaving AnnualCreditReport, hit NEXT.
You're asked to verify the last four digits of your SSN. Do that.
Experian offers your credit score for only $5.95 (as of July 2008). No thanks. It verifies your free total, hit SUBMIT.
You now have an "identity verification" where you have to remember random details about your past
This is always fun.
You now have an account summary page. It tells you right here if you have any negative issues and how many accounts you have. There is also a "print your report" in the top right - use that. The report tells you, for any negative items (i.e. past due amounts) when they are scheduled to cycle off your report. Also, very nice, for any closed accounts it tells you when the closed account will cycle off the report.
Mine was 10 pages.
Once you have printed the report and checked it for any problems, close down this window.
Again, when you are sure you are done with this report, click on RETURN TO ANNUALCREDITREPORT.COM in the top menu bar. You get a warning that you're leaving Experian.
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On to Equifax. You're asked to verify your information, and hit continue.
You get a few security test questions - multiple choice - about loans you've had. Answer them and hit continue.
You're told you can get your FICO score for only $7.95. What a deal! Not. Say NO THANKS.
You get 3 more offers asking you to pay money. Actually the top one is free and says you can re-access your data for 30 days. This is good say YES to that one but not the other for-pay options. You'll create an account so that you have access to that data.
Now you get a summary page with a link to view and print your report. Go to the 'full report' option, then the Print Report in the top right corner.
Note that I could NOT get this page to show in FireFox - I only got errors (as of July 2008). I am reporting this in. I had to open up the page in IE, logging in with my new username/password, to see the report.
This report was 20 pages long.
That's it! You're done!