According to UW-Extension, AnnualCreditReport.com is a legitimate source for acquiring a free credit report. (Image courtesy of Annual Credit Report)

UW-Extension educators are reminding Wisconsinites to view their free credit report each year on Oct. 10 with the “Check Your Free Credit Report: 2/2, 6/6 10/10” campaign.

“2/2, 6/6, 10/10 are three easy days to remember to set aside just five minutes of your time to pull your credit report from one credit bureau,” said J. Michael Collins, UW-Extension family and consumer economics specialist and director of the UW-Madison Center for Financial Security. “It is a simple way that you can remember to keep tabs on your credit report on a regular basis.”

The campaign’s website walks you through the process of pulling and reading the reports.

The information found in your credit report can play a role in whether you’re offered a job or eligible for a loan. According to the National Financial Capability Study conducted by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, about four out of 10 Wisconsin residents check their credit reports on a yearly basis.

“The credit reporting site offers an under-utilized free service that can save people money, time and financial stress. A lot of mistakes on credit reports can be caught early by checking your credit report every four months,” advised Collins.

Credit reports are different from credit scores, Collins explained. “Although a credit score is a useful piece of information, it is calculated using the information in your credit report.”

Collins noted that there is only one legitimate source for a free credit report, and there are many imposters.

“AnnualCreditReport.com and its mailing address and phone number are the only truly no-cost ways to obtain the free credit reports everybody is entitled to by law,” said Collins.

Other websites claim to offer free reports, scores or monitoring, but they often incur significant one-time or ongoing fees. Unsolicited e-mails, pop-ups or phone calls offering free scores or reports are not official.

For more information contact J. Michael Collins at 608-262-0369 or jmcollins@wisc.edu.