We looked into all the offers for "free credit reports online" and all the offers we looked into for free credit reports turned out to be a hook for an ancillary service requiring lengthy commitment*. Though some offered trial periods that you could technically escape without any obligation. The only free credit reports are available directly from the credit bureaus under certain circumstances. As is true with most things – it can't be free. Free credit report offers from a reseller is too good to be true. The idea that someone would plaster the internet with banner ads and pop-ups and pay for every click to have the opportunity to give something away they have to buy from the credit bureaus defies logic.
* Most offers are dependant on commitment for one year of "monitoring" service. We find nothing wrong with monitoring services – but consumers should not expect to get a credit report for free without incurring some other obligation.
