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Dollar Scholar Asks: How Often Should I Get a Free Credit Report?

By: Julia Glum
Julia Glum, expert in the IRS, taxes, credit scores, saving, colleges, mobile payment apps, and News Editor at Money
Julia Glum
News Editor | Joined February 2018
Julia Glum joined Money in 2018 and specializes in covering financial trends that affect everyday Americans' wallets. She also writes Dollar Scholar, a weekly newsletter that teaches young adults how to navigate the messy world of money.
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Published: Oct 20, 2023 6 min read
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This is an excerpt from Dollar Scholar, the Money newsletter where news editor Julia Glum teaches you the modern money lessons you NEED to know. Don't miss the next issue! Sign up at money.com/subscribe and join our community of 160,000+ Scholars.

Back in 2003, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act gave Americans the legal right to download one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. So personal finance experts developed a recommendation: Everyone should pull their credit every four months, cycling between the companies.

But then the pandemic changed the status quo.

In April 2020, the bureaus loosened their restrictions. Citing a surge in missed credit card, bill and rent payments due to unemployment levels not seen since the ‘40s, they announced people could — for a limited time only — pull a free credit report from each agency every week.