Website for obtaining credit report?

Can anyone recommend a good credit report website? Google shows a few, but I'd feel better going by word of mouth.

Thank you!

Updated On: 9/30/10 at 04:40 AM

And it's free if you use it once a year.

Don't fall for the freecreditreport.com BS unless you plan on cancelling it within 30 days. Otherwise, you're on the hook for $14.95 a month.

Helpful tip: you're allowed to receive your credit report for free once per year *per agency,* so I like to stagger them every four months (ie: in October request Equifax, then in Feb request Experian, etc.); it just feels like you're more on top of seeing if something's wrong than if you're just looking at all three only once a year.

I don't presume to speak for anyone else here, but I am obsessive about checking my credit reports ever since my identity was stolen a couple of years ago and a whole bunch of accounts were opened up using my info. That is a pain and a half to clean up after the fact, much better to catch it before it starts.

The one good thing, if it ever does happen to you, is that, once you've filed a police report for identity theft, the credit reporting bureaus will allow you to place a 'credit freeze' on your report for free. Usually you have to pay to get a credit freeze put on, and pay each time you want to temporarily lift it when you're applying for credit, so having the police report and being able to do the freezing/unfreezing for free is a nice perk... You know, as nice of a perk as one can find in being the victim of identity theft. :)

"Food for thought: You won't ever need to see a credit report if you ALWAYS pay ALL of your bills on time."

That's not true. Your credit report contains information that is not always accurate.

For example, a few years ago, my credit report listed a credit card account that I had closed two years previously. I got them to correct and report that that account was closed.

Also they don't always hire the most efficient data entry people. If you have a name that is similar to someone else's, their information can get on your credit report.

Unfortunately too much emphasis is placed on the credit report these days as the information on it can keep you from getting a job.

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My statement was based on my own credit experience and I should not have made it so definitive. Everyone has different credit circumstances. I believe that if you show restraint and diligence when it comes to credit, you shouldn't need to check your credit report. In actuality, checking your report frequently actually hurts you when you go to borrow. As far as identity theft is concerned, I have one credit card. That's all you need. I use it sparingly. I use cash as much as possible and limit the amount I withdraw. I check the credit card statement thoroughly each month. I pay the balance off in full each month. I don't share the card number unless it is on a secured site. I don't give the number out over the phone. I shread all documents. I balance my checkbook each month. My debt consists of a mortgage -- in a house I can afford and a car payment -- in a car I can afford. I live within my means. I've maintained stable, long term employment. Could someone still steal my identity? Possibly, but I do everything in my power to make sure that they can't. And, if they did, by keeping my credit to a minimum I make it easier to clean up.

Not at all. I don't give out my social security information either. If someone wants to steal your identity that much, they will find a way. Checking a credit report won't stop them, it could only possibly give someone piece of mind. I have piece of mind when it comes to my credit. And checking your credit report FREQUENTLY does hurt your credit in that it's a red flag to lenders and employers that you have or have had problems.

Updated On: 9/30/10 at 12:24 PM

No, checking a credit report won't stop anyone, but it will you if there's something amiss.

I don't get how checking your report frequently is red flag anymore than the actual red flags that would on your report, which they would have access to if they have access to how often you check your credit.

It's a hard inquiry that shows up on your credit report and can be held against you if you get too many of them. You get those whenever you apply for a credit card or an apartment, for example--when someone else is looking into your credit.

I actually am with freecreditreport.com and get to see an updated report from one of the 3 companies every month (for more I could see all 3). It doesn't affect my score. I like being with them because if anything negative gets reported, I get an email.

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Will do, mom. I'll eat all of my brocoli, too.

Has anyone who has used annualcreditreport.com ever had a problem obtaining their credit report online? I just got a message saying they couldn't deliver mine because of a freeze, a fraud alert, or the id info I submitted didn't match the records they have on file.

If someone's messing with my identity I will implode. My life is complicated enough as it is.