Getting a free credit report may sound too good to be true, but it’s not. In fact, it’s the law—and you’re entitled to not just one, but three. You may request a free credit report from each of the three main credit reporting agencies once every 12 months. And the process of ordering your free credit report is quite simple.

How many credit reports should you order? Federal law allows you to receive one credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Are you planning a major purchase in the near future? If so, you may want to request all three credit reports now to ensure there aren’t any mistakes on them that you need to dispute or correct. Each credit reporting agency obtains information from different sources, so the content in each agency’s credit report may differ. Even if different, they may all still be accurate. If you’re not planning a major purchase, it may make sense to order them over time, say, one every four months. That way, you may be able to spot changes—both expected and otherwise—over the course of the year. Each time you order a credit report, mark your calendar for 12 months later, so you’ll know when it’s time to order a new one from that agency.

Some companies want to sell you credit reports or have you sign up for a service when all you want is your free credit report. Don’t be fooled. Type “free credit report” in an online search tool, and you’ll see many links vying for your click. Some include such search-results language as, “free” or “official site.”

Credit bureaus and credit reporting agencies are different terms for the same companies. In the U.S., there are three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each collects information about you and how you use credit. They also keep track of whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy or if any business has turned your unpaid debt over to a collections agency.