Annual Credit Report.com Review: Does It Actually Work?

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help.

A Review of AnnualCreditReport.Com: What You Need to Know

If you're looking for a reliable and free source for credit reports, AnnualCreditReport.com is a common search result. This public website specializes in providing your three free government-mandated credit reports all at once, once a year. However, with so many scam credit report services on the loose, you may be looking for a reliable AnnualCreditReport.com review. Luckily, you've found it.

AnnualCreditReport.com, like most things named by a government project, does exactly what it says on the box. You get one free credit report every 12 months. DoNotPay is here to guide you through the facts and features of this AnnualCreditReport.com review and more frequent credit report alternatives.

What is AnnualCreditReport.Com?

AnnualCreditReport.com is a government-backed project designed to ensure that every consumer can access their free annual credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Outside of the commercial providers, AnnualCreditReport is there to solidly connect with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to extract exactly one 3-bureau credit report per year, per person.

The website can only be effectively used once a year to claim your annual credit report. Once you request a bureau's credit report, it will not be available for another 12 months. If you request a 3-bureau score check, this will use up all 3 of your annual bureau credit checks for the year.

How Does AnnualCreditReport.Com Work?

You can request your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com by selecting the "Request yours now!" tab along the top navigation menu. This will take you to a 3-step page where you will be prompted to get started by filling out the request form. The form will ask specific identifying questions, and you will be required to share your social security number as the lookup ID.

Once you complete the application form, you will be asked to choose which of your credit reports you'd like to receive; Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion - or all three. From there, you can review your request and submit. Your credit score will then be pulled and it may be several days before you receive your credit report by email or by mail.

Can I Get More Than One Credit Report from AnnualCreditReport.Com?

Yes and no. You can get up to three credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, but you cannot get a repeat report. You can get one credit report from Experian, one credit report from Equifax, and from TransUnion. Or you can choose to receive all three of your free annual credit reports at the same time. However, once you've ordered each of your annual credit reports, you cannot get them more than once. Only a service like DoNotPay can provide you with monthly updates to your credit report.

What are the Risks Related to AnnualCreditReport.Com?

Unfortunately, there are some risks if you plan to use AnnualCreditReport.com to get your free credit reports. Those risks relate to phishing and spoofed websites. While AnnualCreditReport.com is safe, not everything calling itself by that name will be. If you get an outreach email or phone call from AnnualCreditReport.com, there is a good chance that this is a scammer trying to get your social security number and other essential information.

Other AnnualCreditReport.Com FAQs

Credit reporting agencies and credit scores are inherently mysterious and often lead everyday citizens to a few common questions, including:

Does using AnnualCreditReport com hurt your credit?No. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit score from all three major credit agencies every year. Requesting your copy is not considered a hard inquiry nor is it opening a new line of credit. It will not affect your credit score.
Can I view my past credit reports on AnnualCreditReport.com?Your credit score is an overview of your entire credit history so it’s not really necessary to revisit past reports. However, you can request old reports if you’ve lost them.
With three credit reporting agencies, how do I know which report to request?Requesting reports from all three agencies will give you the best overview of your credit so go ahead and request all three. That comprehensive view of your credit also allows you to compare reporting and potentially catch any inaccuracies.

Boost Your Credit Score With DoNotPay!

You can also improve your credit score with DoNotPay. There are several cool ways the DoNotPay's automated and assisted services can help you quickly increase your credit score with smart financial management and a few clever strategies.

Here are the 4 ways DoNotPay can help you clean up your credit report.

  1. File a goodwill debt removal letter
  2. Dispute an inaccurate credit report record
  3. Submit a debt validation request
  4. Mail negotiation letters that are pay-to-delete

If you want to clean up your credit report but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 3 easy steps:

  1. Search Clean Credit Report on DoNotPay.
  2. Prepare a recent copy of your credit report that you can use as reference.
  3. Let us guide you through the 4 potential options:
  1. If you've already paid off your debt, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.
  2. If you notice any errors in your report (we have a list of common errors you can use!), we'll help you file a credit dispute to the creditor or major credit bureaus.
  3. If there are no errors, we'll check if you're still eligible to file a debt validation request. If they can't validate your debt, they're required to remove it from your report and they can't collect it!
  4. Lastly, if none of the above options work, we'll help you file a pay-to-delete negotiation letter. You can customize the amount you are willing to pay in exchange for getting the item removed.

You can also check out our other credit products, including Credit Limit Increase, Get My Credit Report, Keep Unused Cards Active, and more!

Find Out More About Credit Report Services

DoNotPay is here to help you take ownership of your credit reports and take control of your credit score.

  • Experian Boost Reviews
  • Equifax Free Credit Report Review
  • Formswift Reviews
  • Lifelock Reviews
  • Fastweb Reviews

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

Generating credit reports at a useful pace is just one of the many ways that DoNotPay can make your life easier and empower you to take control of your finances. Whether you need help booking appointments and mailing in checks or someone to wait on hold fo you and demand refunds when you deserve them, we've got your back. Check out some more ways DoNotPay can save you time and money this year.

Want your issue solved now?