In the third and final part of this series on getting your free credit report without the not-so-free extras, we’ll be looking at Equifax, one of the trickier credit reporting agencies.

1. Begin by signing onto AnnualCreditReport.com and selecting your state. You’ll be prompted to enter some identifying information, if you haven’t done so already.

2. On the next screen, check Equifax and click “Next.”

3. The information you filled out in step one should carry over to the next screen. Confirm that it is accurate and click “Continue.” Note: for privacy reasons, you may wish to mask the first five digits of your Social Security number.

4. Next, you’ll be asked a few questions about your credit history to verify your identity. As before, the answer is very often “None of the above.” Choose the correct answers and click “Continue.”

5. This screen is where things get tricky. Here, there are only two buttons. Both of them  result in you paying money to see your FICO score. Note that this is not the same as your credit report and you are not entitled to it for free pursuant to the Fairness in Lending Act. To receive only your free credit report, click the somewhat buried link reading “No Thanks, I Don’t Want to Know My Score.”

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6. Next, you’ll be presented with a few more “special offers.” Go ahead and skip them all – they are all paid services that have nothing to do with your credit report. Make sure that your total price listed is $0.00 and the price is “Free” before clicking “Submit.” If all you wanted was your free credit report, stop now. You’ll automatically be taken to your Equifax credit report.

7. If you select “Yes” on any of the “special offers” you will be prompted to enter your credit card information and agree to some terms. Note that you are not obligated to make any payments or agree to any additional terms in order to receive your free report. If you are prompted to enter your credit card information, make sure that you have answered “No” to all the options.

8. If you do decide to sign up for the extras, you will need to create an Equifax account. Make sure you click “I choose to opt out” in order to avoid getting any extra junk mail.

By now, you have hopefully learned the fundamental instincts needed to avoid signing up for extra services when getting your free credit report. Note that while you will always be entitled to a free credit report by federal law, the deceptive tactics of TransUnion, Equifax and Experian are subject to change. The next time you think you’re getting something for free, including credit reports, keep the following in mind:

Ask Yourself: Why am I getting this for free? What’s in it for them?

When you get a free t-shirt, a free coffee mug or a free sticker you are advertising for the company. When you get a free tote bag from your bank it’s likely as a “thank you” gift for signing up for a checking account. There is always a good reason for a company or agency to give you something for free. If there isn’t, then it’s more than likely not free at all. In the case of your annual credit report, it’s free by federal law.

Always read the fine print before checking a box or leaving a box unchecked.

Many websites like to auto-fill your forms for your convenience. In most cases, the default options are ones that result in you signing up for an extra service. Look for boxes that say “I opt out of this service” or “No thanks, please just send my credit report” and check them. Leave anything such as “Yes, I’d like my FICO score for $7.95” unchecked. Read all of your options before clicking submit.

Think before you click.

In most cases, as you’ve seen in this series, the most inviting button typically leads to extra fees while the free option is a barely visible link buried beneath it. If you find yourself stuck between choosing: “Yes, I’d love to pay more money!” and “Yes, please charge me extra!” look harder for the “No thanks, please give me my free report and leave me alone” link. It’s in there somewhere, you just have to find it.

Never enter your credit card information.

A seemingly obvious tip, but because some companies (such as airlines) use credit cards for identity verification, many consumers get tricked into authorizing one of the credit reporting agencies to charge their credit cards. To be safe, never enter your credit card information, even if you are prompted to do so. Receiving your free annual credit report uses a different method of verification that does not require you to enter a credit card.

If all else fails, request by mail.

The easiest, though perhaps not the quickest, way to get your free credit report without signing up for junk is to get your report by mail. To request your credit report by mail, simply print out the one page PDF on AnnualCreditReport.com and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service

PO Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

That way, you can get your report directly through the Annual Credit Report Request Service without dealing with Equifax, TransUnion or Experian’s circuitous websites.

So, there you have it. Enjoy your free credit report as well as your highly refined junk mail, paid service and scam repelling skills. Go forth and spend nothing on free* offers.

Photo by Justin Marty

Related posts:

1. A Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Your (Actually) Free Credit Report without Accidentally Signing Up For Extras: Part Two – Experian
2. A Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Your (Actually) Free Credit Report without Accidentally Signing Up For Extras: Part One – TransUnion
3. Guide to Getting Your Free Credit Report from GoFreeCredit.com
4. Getting Your (Actually) Free Credit Report from SmartCredit.com
5. TrueCredit – Free TransUnion Credit Monitoring