How can consumers access their credit scores?

Consumers can access their credit scores from credit reporting agencies or financial service providers for a fee because these entities frequently provide score information as part of their services. Credit reporting agencies, which include Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, are the primary sources of credit scores, and while consumers are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of these agencies under federal law, credit scores are not included in this free report. Instead, to obtain their credit scores, consumers typically need to purchase them directly from the credit reporting agencies or through financial service providers that offer credit score access as part of their offerings, such as credit monitoring services.

While free reports and government websites are accessible, they typically do not include the actual credit score but rather information about credit history and activity. Banks may also provide access to credit scores to their account holders, often as a part of their online banking services, but this is not the only method available for obtaining credit scores. Therefore, the option that states that consumers can access their credit scores from credit reporting agencies or financial service providers for a fee accurately reflects the most direct and common means for consumers to obtain this information.