While there is only one website that is authorized to give you your free annual credit report and that is www.annualcreditreport.com, there are many services that claim you can get your free credit score through them. However, today all of them must make you aware that the only way to get your totally free credit report is to visit the above mentioned website. Most of the other sites want you to purchase one or more of their products or services. This is not always a bad thing as some of the credit products and services being offered can be quite useful.

Where to Start Looking for Your Free Annual Credit Score

Obviously, we have already covered www.annualcreditreport.com as being an option. However, if you are interested in other features such as credit monitoring or would like to have continuous access to your credit score or report then you should think about purchasing a plan which would enable you to do so. The best thing to do is do a Google search and look for a number of different credit report products and services as well as the sites offering them. Read user reviews and research each service carefully before giving out your credit card information. Many of these companies will offer you a free credit score or free annual report just for signing up for a trial membership. If you cancel before your bill becomes due then this is one way of doing it.

Free Credit Score and FICO

Unfortunately, there is noway to get your free FICO score. Your FICO score is your official credit score and the only place to get that particular score is to visit the FICO website. Any other free credit score you are getting will more than likely not be the genuine FICO. Always keep in mind that most lenders will be reviewing your true FICO score and not the score you are given with the three reporting agencies. Your FICO score plays a major role in your ability to have credit extended to you so it is vital to also pay attention to that as well as requesting your free annual credit score from the three credit reporting agencies. For more information on your FICO score you may want to check out myfico.com.

Applying for a line of credit is one of the simplest ways to get a free credit report. Apply for a credit card or loan and then if you are turned down for some reason, this automatically entitles you to request a free credit report. You are entitled by law to an explanation as to why your loan or line of credit was denied and usually within about 30 days of being denied you will get a letter with instructions on how to ask for your free annual credit score or free credit report. Be cautious not to do this too often as each time your credit is pulled during a loan application, negative points appear on your overall report and this is never a good thing.