Accessing credit history and credit score is a common topic of discussion. Consumers have the right to access their credit report by accessing online or ordering their credit reports from the authorised bureaus. There have been number of instances where innocent people were fooled by online websites which sprung up overnight and told them that they can sell them these credit reports 

You have the right to obtain your credit report free from the credit agencies once a year.  

The online site www.annualcreditreport.com is a legitimate from where you can order your free copy of credit score. Those who are conscious about their identity should better call or order for a copy of the credit report. 

You are not required to order all the three copies at the same time. You are advised to order your reports once from each credit bureau. It is important to monitor your reports on an ongoing basis so that you are aware what the credit report agencies are reporting about you the people who want to know about you. 

There are credit reporting agencies of TransUnion, Equifax and Innovis which provide the credit reports to the consumers. Till some time back Experian also used to give credit reports to consumers but they no longer provide it to them. They only sell the credit report to the lenders. 

There are certain special circumstances when you are entitled to a free copy over and above the one you get every year from the credit rating agencies. 

These special circumstances are as follows:- 

If you have been recently denied a credit . It is generally within 60 days of credit denial that you can order a free copy of the credit report. 

If you are unemployed and want to apply for employment ,then you can order a free copy as such since you would like to know your score before your employer does and improve it to increase your chances at getting the job 

If your identity has been compromised and you believe there are certain accounts on your report that do not belong to you and are there because of identity theft. 

If you have disputed an account on your credit report and you are awaiting the investigation results, then such results are going to be freely made available to you. In fact, the credit reporting agencies have to reply within a stipulated time of 30 days on your investigation results. 

There are certain states wherein the consumers are entitled to a free copy of the credit reports. 

Name of the states is as follows:- 

Colorado, Georgia (2 per year), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. 

There are certain companies which sell the products from the Credit rating agencies and provide credit monitoring services that alert on activity on your report, such as a new credit account, placement of negative information, inquiries from creditors etc.