The free annual credit report has already made a turn in court. Somehow the meaning of the word "free" is very difficult to understand for some people. 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. You should ask yourself the following questions to see if you are fully informed about your free credit report: