Free weekly, from one official site
AnnualCreditReport.com, for all three bureaus.
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Debt and credit0/11
Good debt vs. bad debt: how to tell the differenceAvalanche vs. snowball: the fastest way out of debtDebt consolidation and refinancingUse credit cards without paying interestWhat actually moves your credit scoreCheck your credit report like a receiptIdentity theft: prevent, spot and recoverDealing with debt collectorsStudent loan repayment basicsCar loans: avoid the common pitfallsMortgage basics: what PITI means
Check your credit report like a receipt
All three reports are free every week. Read them line by line, dispute errors with proof and freeze when you are not applying.
In this lesson you will
- Get all three reports free
- Check them line by line
- Dispute an error and freeze your credit
Your credit report is a record about you that lenders, landlords and insurers may use — and most people never read it. Checking it is free, it does not affect your score, and it works best the way you check a receipt: line by line, with your own records beside it.
Where to get it
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each keep a separate report. All three have permanently made free weekly reports available at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only site authorized to provide the free reports required by law (FTC). Other sites may charge or try to sell you something.
What to check
- Personal details: names, addresses and employers should all be yours.
- Accounts: every card and loan should be one you opened, with the right balance, limit and status.
- Payment history: any late payment listed should match your own statements.
- Inquiries: hard inquiries should match applications you actually made.
Report versus score
The report is the record; a score is calculated from it. For FICO Scores, myFICO lists payment history at 35%, amounts owed at 30%, length of history at 15%, credit mix at 10% and new credit at 10%. An error in the report can therefore move the score.
Disputing an error
Contact both the credit bureau and the business that supplied the information. Explain what is wrong, include copies — not originals — of your proof, and keep a record of what you send. The bureau generally has 30 days to investigate (FTC).
Freeze when you are not applying
A credit freeze is free, does not affect your score, and blocks new credit being opened in your name until you lift it (FTC). If you are not applying for credit soon, it is one of the simplest protections available. Lift it temporarily when you do apply.
By the GetGuac team · Editorial policy
Three ideas to keep
Your records are the proof
Statements and confirmations settle disputes.
A freeze is free protection
It blocks new credit in your name until you lift it.
Do it in 4 steps
Pull all three reports
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Check details, accounts, payments, inquiries
With statements beside you.
Dispute errors in writing
To the bureau and the business that reported it.
Freeze when not applying
Lift it temporarily when you apply.
The five FICO factors and the records that support them
Weights as published by myFICO for FICO Scores, checked 1 October 2026.
| Factor | Weight | Check it against |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | Statements and payment confirmations |
| Amounts owed | 30% | Card balances and limits |
| Length of credit history | 15% | Account open dates |
| Credit mix | 10% | Your list of debts |
| New credit | 10% | Applications you made |
Other scoring models weigh factors differently; the report is what all of them read.
Where this usually goes wrong
- Paying a site for reports that are free
- Sending original documents with a dispute
- Trusting anyone who promises to remove accurate information
Request one free report today and check every account on it is yours.
Tools and guides for this lesson
Quick quiz
1. Where are free weekly reports from all three bureaus?
2. Does checking your own report lower your score?
3. Who should you contact to dispute an error?
0 of 3 answered
Puzzle
You check one bureau’s report every 4 months, rotating through all three. How often do you see each bureau?
Show the answer
Once a year each
3 bureaus × 4 months = 12 months for a full cycle. Weekly free access means you can check more often if you wish.