General Questions
Where can I find out more about credit, credit reports and scores, repairing my credit scores, and protecting myself against credit fraud and identify theft?
The Federal Trade Commission's website and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's website offer helpful information about credit and other related topics.
Federal Trade Commission Articles:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Topics:
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What should I do if I think someone is using my personal information?
Visit identityTheft.gov to report identity theft and get a personal recovery plan that will:
- Walk you through each recovery step
- Pre-fill letters and forms for you to send to businesses, debt collectors, and others
- Track your progress and adapts to your changing situation.
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Is it safe to provide my Social Security Number to AnnualCreditReport.com?
Yes. The site's security protocols and measures protect the personal information you provide. You must enter your Social Security Number to receive a free credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com.
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Can I get my name off lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers?
You may ask the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies to leave your name off lists for pre-approved, unsolicited credit and insurance offers. Call 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).
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Can I use my Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to get my free annual credit reports?
Not if you use the AnnualCreditReport.com site. We believe your Social Security Number is the most secure number to use, so our site accepts only that number.
However, since the ITIN has a similar format, you can use your ITIN if you submit your request to one of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies by mail. Once the company receives your request, they will verify your identity using their own procedures.
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How can I submit a suggestion or comment about the Annual Credit Report Request Service or this website?
Our Contact Us section tells you how to send suggestions or comments.
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I am having a problem downloading the U.S. Mail Request Form using my Google Chrome browser. What can I do to resolve this?
If you are using Google's Chrome Browser to view and use our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form, you should be aware that the Chrome Browser uses Google's PDF Viewer by default, rather than the Adobe Reader application. Our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form may not work as designed in Google's Chrome Browser due to this default setting. Our PDF documents are developed with Adobe software in accordance with Adobe PDF standards. To address this issue, you have two options: You can choose which plug-in you wish to use within Chrome. Adobe Reader handles the PDF document as expected, and can be set as your default PDF viewer in the Browser:
The following steps assume Adobe Reader has already been installed. If not, please install Adobe Reader by navigating to Adobe Reader
- Open Google Chrome.
- Type about:plugins into the address bar and press ENTER.
- Find the entry for Chrome PDF Viewer and click Disable.
- Find the entry for Adobe Acrobat and click Disable.
- Close Chrome and then reopen it.
- PDF files should now open properly.
Alternatively, you may choose to open our PDF U.S. Mail Request Form in another browser. The PDF functionality has been tested and works as expected in the latest version(s) of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.
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Which browsers and versions are compatible with AnnualCreditReport.com?
The following browser versions have been tested for an optimal browsing experience from a desktop computer. If the browser you are using is not on the list below, you may not have access to all functions within the website.
- Microsoft Edge 121
- Mozilla Firefox 123
- Google Chrome 121
- Safari Version 17
This site also supports browsing from a smart phone or tablet device. For an optimal browsing experience, we recommend using the following screen resolution based on your specific device:
- Smart Phone - 375 x 667
- Small Tablet - 412 x 659
- Large Landscape Tablet - 1024 x 768
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May I create a link to AnnualCreditReport.com?
Yes. AnnualCreditReport.com permits links from legitimate websites to our website, www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Because we are very concerned about the security of your information, when a user tries to link to www.AnnualCreditReport.com, a new web browser window will display fully the www.AnnualCreditReport.com home page. "New window" links help maintain the security and integrity of how our services are presented and made available to consumers on the Internet.
To create a link to www.AnnualCreditReport.com, use the following HTML code:
<A HREF="https://www.annualcreditreport.com" target="_blank"> link_text </A>
"Link text" is the text you use on your site to create a link to get to our site. You should underline the link text on your site.
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Can I get credit reports in Braille, large print or audio format?
Yes. Blind and Visually Impaired Consumers can ask for your free annual credit reports in Braille, Large Print, or Audio Formats.
- Call toll free at 877-322-8228.
- Provide personal information to validate your identity.
- Orally certify that you are blind or a person with a visual impairment.
- Pick the format you want.
Your credit reports should arrive in about 3 weeks.
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Is there an alternative format for deaf and hard of hearing consumers?
Yes. Deaf and hard of hearing consumers can access our TDD service by calling 7-1-1 and referring the Relay Operator to 1-800-821-7232.
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How do I get help?
If you have accessibility questions, comments, or encounter any difficulty in using our site, please visit our accessibility information here, or contact us here.
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