Washington LawHelp

• What’s new?
• Why would I want to check my credit report that often?
• How do I get my free credit reports?
• I don’t know how to read a credit report.
• I see something on a credit report that isn’t right.

What’s new?

You have long had the right to get your free annual credit report from all three credit reporting agencies once a year.

But now until April 2021, you can get a free credit report from all 3 credit reporting agencies weekly.

Why would I want to check my credit report that often?

Here are some reasons to check your credit reports more often:

• Check if your student loan servicers are reporting on your accounts accurately. Learn more at protectborrowers.org/great-lakes-equifax-transunion-and-experian-sued-for-damaging-millions-of-student-loan-borrowers-credit-mishandling-pandemic-relief

• Make sure no one has stolen your identity to get unemployment benefits in your name. Read Coronavirus (COVID-19): Is someone else wrongfully getting your unemployment benefits? Find it at WashingtonLawHelp.org.

• So many changes in the economy and financial conditions right now can lead to more errors in credit reporting.

• More scams and identity theft during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do I get my free credit reports?

Visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

I don’t know how to read a credit report.

Learn more at www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-are-common-credit-report-errors-that-i-should-look-for-on-my-credit-report-en-313.

I see something on a credit report that isn’t right.

Read how to dispute (challenge) it at www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-dispute-an-error-on-my-credit-report-en-314/. You might be able to get it removed from your credit report.