Join the American Express® MyCredit Guide to track your FICO® Score for free, or you can request a copy of your credit report from all 3 credit bureaus once a year.
Every American is entitled to a free annual credit report from every credit bureau.
Certain Services, such as American Express® MyCredit Guide, also allow users to access their FICO® Score and Experian® credit report. (FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.)
Viewing your free credit report can help you report errors and understand how your credit behavior is reported.
Your credit can affect every aspect of your life, from housing to employment . 1,2 That’s why it’s important to understand your credit score and what’s on your credit report. When you have control over your credit report, you can take steps to correct any errors, strengthen your report, and potentially improve your credit score in the future. But the first step is deciding to access your credit report.
How to Get a Free Credit Report
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the three national credit reporting agencies—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian—to provide you with one free credit report each year.3 But even if you are entitled to a free credit report, many online companies will ask for information including access to your credit report.4 That’s why it’s important to make sure you use a provider that offers free credit reports and doesn’t charge you anything for it.
MyCredit Guide gives you free access to your monthly Experian credit report, in addition to services that allow you to view your credit score, set up credit report alerts to protect your credit accounts from fraud and identity theft, and learn what steps you can take to improve your credit score.
Who provides free credit reports?
Sometimes, companies that charge for access to your credit report offer additional services and benefits, such as credit monitoring . 4 But your bank or credit card may also offer free credit reports and provide the same service . 4
American Express MyCredit Guide is a free service that allows you to view your FICO® Score and Experian® credit report. Once you sign up for MyCredit Guide, you can view your free credit score and credit report at any time. To help you improve your credit knowledge, you can also use tools such as the FICO® Score Simulator and FICO® Score Planner to help you develop positive credit habits to achieve a healthy credit score.
Why Credit Reports Are Important
Simply put , a credit report is a way for lenders to evaluate your history as a borrower.2 Your credit report contains several categories of information that are reported by lenders to the credit bureaus.2 Lenders are not required to report to all three companies, so there may be some differences between your credit reports from the three credit bureaus.1 Your credit report may also differ depending on when the borrower submitted the information to the credit bureaus.1
Your credit report includes: 1
- Personal information. This information may include previous names, addresses, employers, and any public records, such as bankruptcy filings.
- Current and previous loans. Your credit report will include companies that may have offered you loans, loan amounts, or repayment history.
- Credit history. Your credit report will show your credit history, even if the loan has been paid off or repaid.
- Credit Inquiries. If you have applied for a credit card or loan within the past two years, it will appear on your credit report even if your application was denied .
- Bankruptcies, settlements and crimes. Late payments, debt settlements and bankruptcies will be recorded on your report, usually for up to ten years .
Did you know that as an added security measure and to prevent fraud, American Express reports a reference number – not your actual account number – to the credit bureaus?
Simply put, your credit report is a snapshot of your financial history – and serves as a way for lenders to determine the risk of accepting you as a borrower.1 Having a short credit history, late payments or bankruptcies on your credit report, or multiple credit inquiries within a short period of time can raise red flags to lenders.
Why You Should Check Your Free Credit Report
While your credit report is a tool for assessing your creditworthiness, it’s also wise to check your credit report regularly. Here are some smart ways to check your credit report.
- Preventing Identity Theft
Regularly scanning your credit report is one way to ensure that no one has opened an account using your personal information . 3 To further protect your identity, you can also consider joining a credit monitoring service.
- Fix all errors
Sometimes a credit report contains errors. This could be an incorrect name, address, or account information . 8 If you do find an error on your credit report, you can submit an investigation request to the credit bureau and the business that submitted the error . 9 The credit bureau and business will conduct an investigation, publish your results, and may update your credit report accordingly. Removing the error can also improve your credit score immediately.
- Understand your financial situation
In some states, landlords, lenders, and even employers may have access to your credit report, along with your credit score . 1,2 By regularly checking your credit report, you can learn what loan and credit card offers are available to you.
- Add your credit history background information
If there is a blemish on your credit report, such as a bankruptcy filing or a debt settlement, you can include a 100-word explanation with the report detailing how the incident occurred .
- Understand patterns and make future plans
Your credit report can be a valuable resource to uncover any financial habits you may have developed so you can plan for the future. For example, if you have credit limits on multiple cards, you may want to develop a debt consolidation plan to pay off high-interest debt. If you have a history of late payments, you may need to develop better budgeting strategies to ensure you pay your bills on time.
Free credit report from MyCredit Guide
Are you planning for your financial future? MyCredit Guide is a free, easy-to-use credit monitoring service. Sign up today and enjoy access to your FICO ® Score, detailed monthly reports, personalized offers, and more.
- FICO ® Score. Log in to MyCredit Guide to view your FICO ® Score at any time. It’s free, easy to use, and will not affect or lower your credit score . 11
- FICO ® Score Simulator. The FICO ® Score Simulator helps you assess the potential impact of financial choices before you make them.
At the end of the day, knowledge is power, and getting your free credit report is a smart strategy for taking control of your finances.
1 “What is a Credit Score?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
2 “Learn more about your credit report and how to get a copy,” USA.gov
3 “Free Credit Reports,” FTC
4 “Do I have to pay for my credit score?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
5 “What is a Credit Report?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
6 “Understanding Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Report,” Equifax
7 “How long does it take for information to appear on your credit report?” Experian
8 “Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report,” USA.gov
9 “Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report,” FTC
10 “How do I add my consumer state to my profile?” HelpWithMyBank.gov
11 “What is a Credit Inquiry?” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Anna Davies is a writer and content marketing strategist specializing in personal finance. She has been published in New York, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and more.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance writers and is commissioned and paid for by American Express.
The materials on this website Credit Intel provides to you are for informational purposes only and are intended for use by U.S. residents only and do not provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have any questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
