The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
 
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

You can order your free annual credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com  , by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service,
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

Additional Resources:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/rights.shtm

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY1067