Want an Extra Free Credit Report? Move to Maine

Actually, Maine is one of seven states in the country that has its own laws requiring credit bureaus to issue residents an additional credit report each year -- in addition to the once-a-year freebie every American is entitled to from each bureau that can be obtained by going to annualcreditreport.com. Along with Maine, residents in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia and Colorado can also get an extra free copy of their credit reports.

This website from Maine's Bureau of Consumer Protection points out that this freebie is on top of the free report you'll get if you're turned down for credit, insurance or a job because of something negative in your report. Any resident can request the reports at any time, as long as it's been a year or more since their last request. As we've pointed out, your credit score affects many things beyond just your ability to get a credit card, so this is a valuable perk for Americans living in these seven states. Among the seven states, Georgia takes the spotlight for giving residents not one, but two reports per calendar year.