Major Credit Bureaus Extend Free Weekly Access to Credit Reports

(Washington, DC)  Experian, Equifax, and Transunion announced that free weekly access to credit reports will be extended for an additional year until April 20, 2022. As it has for the past year, the extension will allow consumers an opportunity to more closely monitor how their account activity is being reported. Weekly access is especially helpful for those benefiting from special account modifications.

Before the special provision originally announced in 2020, consumers were provided access to one free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies on an annual basis. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made to increase the level of free access to a weekly basis to help people manage their finances during uncertain times.

“Credit reports are an essential tool for consumers working to manage their financial obligations while planning for future needs,” said NFCC President and CEO of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). “During a time of widespread economic crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increased accessibility to credit report information helps those who are struggling the most. As special arrangements are made to help people keep accounts on track, they can monitor how those accommodations are reported. Our goal is to provide clear and professional guidance for all people who are facing difficulty meeting their creditor payment obligations, so we applaud the extension of free weekly access to credit reports as a benefit to all consumers and especially those most who are struggling to recover from financial setbacks.”

Access to free credit reports is available at https://www.annualcreditreport.com

Because credit report access can help identify signs of financial trouble, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling encourages all consumers to reach out for help from a nonprofit credit counselor at the earliest sign of trouble. Counselors certified by the NFCC are capable of reviewing financial challenges and providing clear options for recovery. Counseling can be found by visiting nfcc.org or calling 800-388-2227.