Frequently asked questions

The Federal Trade Commission's website and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's website offer helpful information about credit and other related topics.

Federal Trade Commission Articles:

• Free Credit Reports
• Credit Scores
• Credit Repair: How to Help Yourself
• Federal Identity Theft

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Topics:

• Credit Reporting
• Keeping a Good Credit Score
• Consumer Identity Theft

Visit identityTheft.gov to report identity theft and get a personal recovery plan that will:

• Walk you through each recovery step
• Pre-fill letters and forms for you to send to businesses, debt collectors, and others
• Track your progress and adapts to your changing situation.

Yes. The site's security protocols and measures protect the personal information you provide. You must enter your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to receive a free credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com.

We believe your Social Security Number is the most secure number to use.

However, since the ITIN has a similar format, you can use your ITIN if you submit your request to one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies by web, mail and phone. Once the company receives your request, they will verify your identity using their own procedures.

Our Contact Us section tells you how to send suggestions or comments.

If you are using Google's Chrome Browser to view and use our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form, you should be aware that the Chrome Browser uses Google's PDF Viewer by default, rather than the Adobe Reader application. Our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form may not work as designed in Google's Chrome Browser due to this default setting. Our PDF documents are developed with Adobe software in accordance with Adobe PDF standards. To address this issue, you have two options: You can choose which plug-in you wish to use within Chrome. Adobe Reader handles the PDF document as expected, and can be set as your default PDF viewer in the Browser:

The following steps assume Adobe Reader has already been installed. If not, please install Adobe Reader by navigating to Adobe Reader

• Open Google Chrome.
• Type about:plugins into the address bar and press ENTER.
• Find the entry for Chrome PDF Viewer and click Disable.
• Find the entry for Adobe Acrobat and click Disable.
• Close Chrome and then reopen it.
• PDF files should now open properly.

Alternatively, you may choose to open our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form in another browser. The PDF functionality has been tested and works as expected in the latest version(s) of Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.

Users of this site should remain up to date on the version of the operating system and installed programs on all devices that access this site.

The following operating systems and versions have been tested for an optimal experience when using a desktop or laptop computer. If the operating system you are using is not on the list below, you may not have access to all functions of the website. The operating system version used should always contain the most recent security updates as provided by the supporting organization.

• Microsoft
  • Windows 11 Release # 11 23H2 (E) and above
  • Windows 11 Release # 11 24H2 (W) and above
  • Windows 11 Release # 11 24H2 (E) and above
• Apple
  • MacOS 13 (Ventura) and above

The following browser versions have been tested for an optimal browsing experience when using a desktop or laptop computer. If the browser you are using is not on the list below, you may not have access to all functions of the website. The browser version used should be always contain the most recent security updates as provided by the supporting organization.

• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Safari

This site also supports browsing from a smart phone or tablet device. The following operating systems and versions have been tested for an optimal experience when using a mobile phone or tablet. If the operating system you are using is not on the list below, you may not have access to all functions within the website or be receiving the most current security updates as provided by the supporting organization.

• Apple
  • ios18
• Android
  • 13 Tiramisu

For an optimal browsing experience on a mobile phone or tablet, we recommend using the following screen resolution based on your specific device:

• Smart Phone - 375 x 667
• Small Tablet - 412 x 659
• Large Landscape Tablet - 1024 x 768

These recommendations notwithstanding, we recommend you always access this site using a device with an operating system and browser that is being routinely updated for security vulnerabilities.

Yes. Blind and Visually Impaired Consumers can ask for your free annual credit reports in Braille, Large Print, or Audio Formats.

• Provide personal information to validate your identity.
• Provide additional information to certify that you are blind.
• Request the format you want.

Mail the request and information any of the three of the credit reporting companies:

• Equifax
• P.O. Box 105139
• Atlanta, GA 30348-5139

• Experian
• P.O. Box 2002
• Allen, TX 75013

• TransUnion
• P.O. Box 2000
• Chester, PA 19016

Your credit reports should arrive in about 3 weeks.

If you have accessibility questions, comments, or encounter any difficulty in using our site, please visit our accessibility information here, or contact us here.