You can get one free copy of your credit report every year from each of the big three credit-reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

But you can't do that through their Web sites. (They'll charge you.)

You must use AnnualCreditReport.com.

The credit bureaus created it to comply with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, the federal law that requires them to provide free credit reports to anyone who asks.

Other heavily publicized Web sites may claim to offer free credit reports -- freecreditreport.com is the most obvious and misleading example. But when you read the fine print, you'll only get a "free" credit report when you agree to buy one or more of their services.

At AnnualCreditReport.com, credit histories are available immediately online.

You can also print out forms to mail in or call 1-877-FACTACT (1-877-322-8228) to request copies of your credit reports. But if you order by mail or phone, expect to wait more than two weeks for delivery.

Unfortunately, the credit agencies bombard consumers trying to use AnnualCreditReport.com with come-ons for costly extras such as credit scores, credit monitoring services and debt analysis.

The buttons that lead to the free credit reports can be hard to find while the buttons selling the profitable services are often big and red.

The site has become so deceptive and difficult to use that the Federal Trade Commission is considering whether to forbid the credit bureaus from trying to sell anything until after consumers have obtained their free credit reports.

Just remember, if you're being asked for a credit card number, you've stumbled into something that costs money and you don't need. Hit that "back" button and get out of there.