A client called me to ask about getting a free copy of her credit report just one hour ago.  Identity theft experts recommend that you check your credit at least once per year, and the federal government has given you the right to do it at no charge.  But maybe, like me, you haven't done it yet.  Well, I just did.  Turns out, it's very easy and fast. 

There is no catch to get a full copy of your credit report.  If you want your FICO scores, however, you may have to pay about $7.95 for each repository.  There are three repositories, Equifax, Experian and Transunion.  When you apply for a home loan, they pull all three.  And the federal government has given you the right to view your reports at no charge.

Visit www.annualcreditreport.com and follow the instructions.  It took me about 5 minutes to find and print a report from each repository.

If you would rather do it via the mail, you can write:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
PO Box 105283
Atlanta, GA 30348-5283

Need help Fixing Your Credit?

Read this article: 7 Steps to Fix Your Credit