Calling can be easier than clicking for a free credit report

The official site for free credit reports, www.annualcreditreport.com, can be difficult to use. Plus, while you're clicking around for information, it's easy to get sidetracked by sites such as www.freecreditreport.com, run by Experian, which recently settled bait-and-switch charges with the Federal Trade Commission for pushing “free” reports tied to the purchase of an expensive credit-monitoring service. An easy alternative to going online is to call 877-322-8228.