New Year's resolutions often focus on personal improvement, health, and achieving financial goals. However, another important resolution should be to regularly check your credit reports! Doing so can help you get your finances on track for the coming year. So be sure to put reviewing your credit reports at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions to ensure a successful year ahead.
The good news is that 2024 may be the best year ever for checking credit reports. This is because Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion all recently announced that from now on, you can access your credit reports for free once a week (it used to be only once a year!). This is a game changer for everyone who cares about their credit.
Whether you want to track your credit and financial health, increase your credit scores, monitor and pay off outstanding debts, or make sure your credit report is free of any errors or inaccuracies that could lower your credit scores, checking your credit report regularly is ESSENTIAL.
How to Check Your Credit Reports
Online
Visit annualcreditreport.com to access your free weekly credit reports. This is the only website authorized by the federal government to provide this service. If you come across another site that promises a free credit report, it could be a scam and should be reported to the FTC’s fraud report site.
Once on the website, click on “Request Your Free Credit Reports.” Then click on “Request Your Credit Reports” to fill out the form. Next, pick out which reports you want from one or all three credit bureaus. Before you can access your credit report, you will need to answer questions to verify your identity. This is done to prevent identity theft.
After you gain access to your credit reports, be sure to save or print your credit report for your records. You can also access your credit reports by phone or mail using the steps below.
By Phone
Call 1-877-322-8228 and request that your credit report be physically mailed to your home.
By Mail
Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
If you need visual assistance, a credit report can also be accessed in Braille, large print, and audio formats.
What to Do if You Find Errors on Your Credit Report
If you find any errors or suspicious activity on your credit report, you can immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft division to report it yourself. Or you can seek assistance from non-profit organizations like Tzedek DC or their partners at Working Credit to get help in resolving errors on your credit reports. Tzedek DC has lawyers available to help resolve credit legal issues. Working Credit provides free financial counseling, guidance, support, and advocacy to address credit report inaccuracies to help you improve your overall credit situation.
Errors on a credit report can potentially lower your credit score and disqualify you from financial opportunities that you might otherwise be able to access. While fixing an error on a credit report can sometimes feel like a hassle, it’s worth it!
Resolve to Frequently Check Your Credit Reports in 2024!
As the new year begins, this is the perfect time to get into the habit of checking your credit reports and maintaining financial accuracy. It’s easier to do than ever and is a simple and effective way to protect and increase your financial well-being.