AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
You can get free credit reports from all three nationwide bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, every week at AnnualCreditReport.com, a programme the FTC says the bureaus have permanently extended. You can also order by phone on 1-877-322-8228 or by post. Check all three, because each may hold different information, and dispute errors with both the bureau and the business that supplied them.
A credit report is the record behind your credit score: the accounts in your name, how you have paid them, and who has looked at your file. For a Nigerian who has just arrived, the report may be very short or may not exist yet. Checking it early tells you whether your first card or phone contract is being reported, and whether anyone else is using your details.
Where to get the free reports
The FTC names one official route for free reports, AnnualCreditReport.com, and asks people not to go to the bureaus individually for the free copy. There are three ways in:
- Online
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- Phone
- 1-877-322-8228
- Post
- Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281, using the request form
The FTC's page (June 2026) says free weekly reports from all three bureaus are available there, and that federal law separately gives you a free report from each bureau every 12 months. Many other sites advertise free reports or scores; some are tied to paid subscriptions.
What you will be asked for
The site verifies your identity with your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number, and may ask questions based on what is in your file. A newcomer can hit two problems:
- No file found. If you have no US credit accounts yet, there may be nothing to show. That is normal in the first months, not a sign of fraud.
- Failed identity questions. With a thin file, the questions may refer to things you do not recognise, or the system may not be able to ask any. Try the phone or post route instead.
- Recent move. Use the address your accounts are registered to; if you moved recently, try the previous address.
What to check line by line
The FTC suggests checking that your information is accurate, complete and current, at least once a year and before applying for credit, a loan, insurance, housing or a job. For a newcomer, these checks matter most:
- Your name and date of birth. Nigerian names are often split or ordered differently across documents. Make sure the file reflects your name as it appears on your accounts.
- Addresses. An address you never lived at can point to a mixed file or fraud.
- Accounts. Each card or loan should be yours, with the right opening date and limit.
- Payment history. Every month should show as paid on time if you paid on time.
- Hard inquiries. Each one should match an application you made.
Check all three bureaus. A lender may report to only one or two, so your files can differ.
Disputing an error
The FTC's advice is to contact both the bureau showing the error and the business that supplied the information. Explain in writing what is wrong, include copies (never originals) of evidence such as statements, and keep a record of what you sent and when. If you see accounts you did not open, treat it as possible identity theft; our guide on first steps after identity theft covers that, and a credit freeze stops new accounts being opened while you sort it out.
A habit that takes ten minutes
Because the reports are free weekly, there is no need to ration them. A simple routine is to pull one bureau's report each month in rotation, and all three before a big application such as a lease or car loan. If you are still building a file, our guides on building US credit from scratch and whether Nigerian credit history counts explain the next steps.
Terms you will see on the report
- Tradeline
- Each credit account on your file, such as a card or loan, with its balance, limit and monthly payment record.
- Hard inquiry
- A check made when you apply for credit. It shows to lenders who later look at your file.
- Soft inquiry
- A check that is not linked to an application, such as your own request or a prescreened offer. These are generally not shown to lenders reviewing an application.
- Utilisation
- How much of your card limits you are using. It feeds the amounts-owed part of your score.
- Collection
- A debt passed to a collection agency, for example an unpaid final utility or phone bill after you moved.
- Charge-off
- A debt the lender has written off as a loss. You still owe it, and the record is negative.
A common surprise for newcomers is a collection from a utility or phone company for a final bill sent to an old address. Updating your address with every provider when you move, and asking for a final statement, prevents most of these.
Where Pryme fits
A US credit report covers US accounts only. If you keep money in Nigeria, a Pryme account lets you see naira and dollar balances in one place, and you can generate a verifiable statement through VerifyDoc.ai when a landlord or adviser asks for proof of funds held at home (receipts and statements).
Questions people ask
Is AnnualCreditReport.com really free?
Yes. The FTC names it as the official site for free reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and says free weekly reports are available there.
How often can I check my US credit report free?
The FTC says free weekly reports from all three bureaus are available at AnnualCreditReport.com, and federal law also gives you a free report from each bureau every 12 months.
Why does AnnualCreditReport.com say it cannot find me?
If you have no US credit accounts yet, there may be no file. If you do, try the phone line 1-877-322-8228 or the postal form, and use the address on your accounts.
Do I get a free credit score as well?
The free reports are the reports, not a score. Scores are sold separately or offered by some card issuers and banks.
Sources
- FTC: Free credit reports (June 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- FTC: What to know about credit freezes and fraud alerts (August 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.