Free Credit Report Without Credit Card

Everyone is entitled to get a free credit report without a credit card. Having a credit card is not the criteria for establishment of a credit report with the three major credit reporting agencies (CRA) in the United States. The credit reporting bureaus receive information about consumers from many sources. If you have gone bankrupt, had a lien placed against you for a debt or taxes, been sued or arrested, that is in your credit report. If you have ever had a loan, rented an apartment, bought a home, or done many other things normal people do, you have a credit report on file with these agencies.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act mandates that each of the big three CRAs allow you to obtain your free credit report without a credit card once every year. The “big three” CRAs include Trans Union, Experian and Equifax agencies. They hold secure information about millions of consumers. This information is supposed to be accurate and private; occasional mistakes and errors do happen. If you see a mistake on your credit report, you can dispute this in writing and also add a statement of explanation to negative entries. The fairness and correctness of your credit report is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

Credit reports include much more than just credit account information. There is a complete listing going back up to ten years of your name, your spouse’s name, how many children you have, where you have lived, your addresses, Social Security number, telephone numbers, date of birth, employers names and addresses, income and more data. Whether you have a credit card does not matter.

The U.S. Congress mandated that consumers be allowed a free credit report even if they do not have a credit card. Credit reports are compiled about everyone’s financial history, and credit cards are only one part of that history. The report is free once yearly to the consumer from each of the three CRAs. The CRAs use this information to sell to creditors, employers, landlords, insurance companies and other businesses. Those same businesses provide consumer information to the CRAs in turn. It is in the consumer’s best interest to be watchful and get their free credit report even if they have no credit card.

Most information stays on your credit report for seven to ten years. Bankruptcy stays for ten years. Reports of critical information, such as an arrest record or criminal conviction, will remain forever, but it is only reported if you apply for a job paying over $75,000 per year. If you apply for large life insurance policies or have a lawsuit judgment against you, that also remains for at least seven years.

When you want a free credit report, the only place to visit is the website: www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the one that is maintained by the big three CRAs due to the act of Congress. There is no charge one time a year from each of the three, and there is no charge if you have been denied credit or refused employment, insurance, or housing. To get your report, you will need to provide some personal identification including your Social Security number and name.