There are many websites offering consumers a Credit Report. The reason websites can give away a Credit Report typically is because they are interested in providing Credit Monitoring services to consumers to help them protect their credit and protect against Identity Theft.

This should not be confused with the central site, AnnualCreditReport.com, which allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, but does not include Free Credit Scores or Credit Monitoring.

Credit Monitoring is a very valuable service which monitors a consumer's credit report for any changes that may affect someone's credit score as well as to help protect against Identity Theft. Credit monitoring typically costs anywhere from $9.95 to $29.95 per month depending on the level of service and features.

The Credit Report is often offered along with a Free Credit Monitoring Trial allowing consumers to not only see their credit report and credit score, but to also let them sample the credit monitoring service.

If the consumer chooses not to keep the service, they would need to cancel the Credit Monitoring before the end of the trial. If they decide this is a great service and want to protect their credit score and monitor any attempts at identity theft, then the service would automatically bill a credit card on a monthly basis.

A consumer can also receive a simple version of their credit report, but not their credit score or a free credit monitoring trial, but visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. This site, created by the passing of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act), does offer some credit report data, but not always as complete and comprehensive as a more traditional credit report from a credit bureau.