free credit report.

Many types and formats of credit reports are published throughout the United States although they all originate from three major credit reporting companies, Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. The best credit reports to use to determine the true status of your credit are reports that originate directly from Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. Other reports such as subscriber reports, mortgage reports and triggered reports do not contain the best information to use for a true status of what the credit reporting companies are actually reporting about you. Furthermore, when you access a subscriber report, a mortgage report or other forms of credit reports you are subjecting yourself to having an inquiry listed on your reports thereby having the potential effect of lowering your credit score associated with your innocent desire to view your credit report.

Although it is very easy for creditors and other third parties to get your credit reports on very short notice, the credit reporting companies will not provide you your credit reports unless you jump
through certain hoops and provide them certain required information. The following Credit Report
Request Forms set forth the information that needs to be provided to each credit reporting company
before it will send you your reports. By law, in some instances, the credit reporting companies are also entitled to collect a fee before they are required to send you your credit report. Credit reporting
companies will also provide you your calculated credit score and they also may collect a fee from you
before they provide you that score.

To receive your reports, fill out the forms completely and provide either the required fee for the
reports made out directly to the credit reporting company, i.e., Experian, Trans Union or Equifax, or
provide a copy of a credit denial letter to get a free credit report. Note, the fee schedule on the next
sheet that applies to your State and whether or not you are entitled to a free credit report absent a
credit denial letter. There is also a separate fee for your credit score. Make sure you do provide some
sort of identification as indicated on the credit report request forms to ensure you will receive your
credit reports without delay.