Credit Myth #89 - You can only get your credit reports from annualcreditreport.com once per year.

[u/BrutalBodyShots]

You can't fault anyone for not knowing this myth since the name couldn't be any more misleading if it tried ;) I've seen it come up a lot on the sub lately though where people have obtained their reports from ACR within the last year and therefore believe they aren't eligible to grab them again.

It's true that up until the covid pandemic, one could only acquire their real credit reports from annualcreditreport.com once per year. In 2020 that changed, where Experian, TransUnion and Equifax agreed to "temporarily" switch to allowing weekly access of reports. From there, the weekly program was extended a couple of times. Eventually it turned into a permanent program that has been in place for several years now.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/10/you-now-have-permanent-access-free-weekly-credit-reports

So enjoy those true credit reports for free as often as once weekly everyone!

[u/og-aliensfan]

Just to add to this, you can either pull your reports online or have them mailed.  I strongly recommend having your reports mailed.  If pulled online, ACR may direct you to the bureau's websites, which may be less detailed and precise than the mailed versions.  It takes about a week to receive your reports in the mail, but IMO, it's worth waiting.  If you do pull reports online, print or save each report to a pdf before moving on to the next as you can't go back once you exit a report.  

[u/Few_Resolution_7561 → u/og-aliensfan]

I accidentally requested my TransUnion report be mailed. Received it yesterday and wow! It’s so much easier to look at than online. Having a physical copy in hand so I could verify everything is an absolute game changer.

[u/BrutalBodyShots → u/og-aliensfan]

Great advice above and something I should have definitely added.

The hard copy reports are extremely thorough / as good as it gets.

[u/og-aliensfan → u/BrutalBodyShots]

This was an important myth to bust. I'm glad you brought attention to it!

[u/Brownbagguy → u/og-aliensfan]

I always save my online reports to pdf that I get thru ACR. Yes, ACR always redirects you to each bureau's site to get the report, then back to ACR to pick the next bureau.
I don't see how that report could be different than a hard copy mailed report, both coming directly from the bureaus.

[u/og-aliensfan → u/Brownbagguy]

I don't see how that report could be different than a hard copy mailed report, both coming directly from the bureaus.

And yet it often is. Your ACR reports are typically more detailed. They may include a longer payment history for each account as well as more detailed coding. Bureau specific codes are visible. Account details may be more complete in the mailed versions. Comments may be more complete.  In the pdf version, newer comments may overwite older comments, but they should all be visible on the mailed reports. Important dates, such as Date of First Delinquency may not appear when viewing the account via the website, but will be visible on the mailed reports. These differences have become more noticeable recently.