INDIANAPOLIS — During the pandemic, scams surged. That's one of the reasons why the government allowed citizens to request a free credit report more often.
A credit report is a borrowing report card, and it's important to check it for mistakes and identity theft.
People can pull their reports weekly from each of the bureaus for free.
How to request a credit report
To request a report from each of the bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — head to www.annualcreditreport.com. That's the website authorized from the federal government.
Once you get your three credit reports, check for name and address mistakes. Then, head to accounts and hard inquiries, and for loans or credit cards that you didn't apply for.
What to do if there's a mistake
If there's a mistake on your credit report, send a letter to both the bureau and the lender. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers a template for those letters.
Here's how to see each credit bureau's process for handling disputes:
If you are not planning on opening a line of credit, consider freezing your account to prevent bureaus from giving your report to new creditors. To do this, contact each bureau individually.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the service was extended.
What other people are reading:
- 'Our hearts are full' | Family of Indianapolis couple found in Nevada thanks searchers, supporters
- Some of the reasons your car insurance will likely go up
- Calling all babies! | Search for the next Gerber baby
- Are we stealing? Netflix's policy changes and the future of shared streaming
- US experts discuss COVID boosters for the fall and beyond