Millions of Americans are about to get free annual copies of their credit reports.

Congress has ordered the three main national credit bureaus to provide one free report a year.

Starting Wednesday, you can go to www.annualcreditreport.com to check your reports.

The system will take 10 months to phase in, beginning Dec. 1 with those on the West Coast.

Over a nine-month period, the availability will roll out eastward, with the last of the eastern states becoming eligible on Sept. 1, 2005.

Here's the roll-out calendar:

• Dec. 1, 2004: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
• March 1, 2005: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
• June 1, 2005: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
• Sept. 1, 2005: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and all U.S. territories.

Under state law, consumers in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont already have free access to their credit reports.

For years, experts have told consumers that they need to check their credit report every year.

But for the past few years, unless you were denied credit, you had to pay up to $35 to see your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies. Only those who were denied credit could get a free report.

Now, consumers will be able to get a free credit report from each agency each year. The initiative is part of an effort to cut down on identity fraud by making it easier to spot.

"The sooner you catch it, the less damage there is. It's like a leak. If you plug it early, there's little water on the floor," bank investigator Dennis Weathers said.

Once you have the report, you need to look for the things that you don't recognize.

"If you're looking at your file and you see an account, for example, for a Rich's card, if you've never shopped at Rich's, never had a Rich's card, then obviously that would concern you," Equifax's Chris Jarrard said.

Credit counselors estimate that 80 percent of all credit reports contain at least one mistake.

The free credit reports come as a result of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.

Under the Act, the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, are required to provide consumers, upon request, a free copy of their credit report once every 12 months and to create a centralized source to process the requests.

The rules do not require the credit agencies to include consumers' credit scores with the report.

Credit scores are derived from credit reports.

A credit score is a quick way for lenders to assess how risky you are as a potential borrower. The higher your score, the less risk you pose to lenders and the more likely it is that you'll get their best available rates.

How To Access Free Credit Report

• Online: www.annualcreditreport.com
• By Phone: (877) 322-8228
• By Mail:
  Annual Credit Report Request Service
  P.O. Box 105281
  Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Applicants are required to provide their name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. Requests should be processed within 15 days.