For more than 10 years, consumers have been able to get their credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. Sponsored by the federal government, the website allows you to look at a detailed list of your financial history, including payments and accounts, as reported by the three big credit bureaus.

 

Please note that AnnualCreditReport.com is the only official website where you can get a free copy of your credit report from all three credit reporting agencies (you are entitled to one free credit report from each agency per year). There are other websites that offer "free credit reports", but many of them will ask you for a credit card and start billing you after a free initial trial period.