Request Free Credit Report Letter

You want to check your personal credit profiles but can’t afford the cost of ordering them!

The new Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) requires the three national credit reporting agencies (CRAs) to provide a free copy of your credit report once per year, upon request. Most Agency’s will direct you to order credit reports through various free credit reporting websites, keep in mind it is done that way to prevent you from disputing credit information on your credit report.

Each report is assigned a special confirmation number by each Credit Bureau and you must have it to form a dispute with them. Online services don’t have confirmation numbers and they combine all three credit reports together, but they do report it as your annual free credit report to the Credit Bureaus and to dispute the information you will end up buying individual credit reports from the Credit Bureaus because you no longer qualify for the free reports.

Qualifying Criteria: If you have already requested a free report but need another copy, you may qualify for one if:

1. You’re receiving public welfare assistance;
2. Your credit file contains inaccurate information due to fraud;
3. You’ve been denied credit or insurance within past 60 days; or
4. You’re unemployed and intend to apply for employment within 60 days;

Use the free sample credit report request letter below to draft your own letter to send to the CRAs requesting a free copy of your personal consumer credit report. Best if you Cut and Paste it into Ms Word or Word Pad.

Sample Letter for Requesting Free Credit Reports

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Today’s Date

Full Name
Current Address
Current Phone Number

Name and Address
of National Credit Bureau

Dear Credit Bureau,

I am requesting a free copy of my credit report from your organization in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 1681j (b) and (c). My qualifying reason(s) is/are (insert one or more of the qualifying reasons from above)

For example: On {insert date here} I was refused credit by {name of creditor}. I’ve enclosed a copy of the creditor’s refusal letter.

Please use the following personal information to locate and forward the report to me:

Full Legal Name: {insert your full name}

Birthday: {insert your birth date in this format mm/dd/yyyy

Social Security Number: {insert your 9-digit number}

Current Address: {insert your complete address}

Former Address: {insert previous addresses if you have moved more than once in the last five years)

I’ve also enclosed copies of my driver’s license, {or utility bill} showing my current address, and a photocopy of my Social Security card. Please do not share my information with any other agency. I look forward to your speedy reply and if you have any questions concerning this request I can be reached at {insert daytime phone number and area code). Thank you.

Sincerely,

Signature
Your Printed Name

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Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 1681j (b) and (c):

(b) Free disclosure after adverse notice to consumer:
Each consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on a consumer shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 1681g of this title without charge to the consumer if, not later than 60 days after receipt by such consumer of a notification pursuant to section 1681m of this title, or of a notification from a debt collection agency affiliated with that consumer reporting agency stating that the consumer’s credit rating may be or has been adversely affected, the consumer makes a request under section 1681g of this title.

(c) Free disclosure under certain other circumstances:
Upon the request of the consumer, a consumer reporting agency shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 1681g of this title once during any 12-month period without charge to that consumer if the consumer certifies in writing that the consumer:

(1) is unemployed and intends to apply for employment in the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the certification is made;

(2) is a recipient of public welfare assistance; or

(3) has reason to believe that the file on the consumer at the agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.

Credit Bureau Mailing Addresses:

Experian:
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374

TransUnion: (Eastern United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

TransUnion: (Western United States)
TransUnion
P.O. Box 34012
Fullerton, CA 92831

TransUnion: (Puerto Rico)
TransUnion
Puerto Rico Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 13968
Santurce Station San Juan, PR00907-3968