There are some 13 million errors in credit reports every year, so it's smart to get yours once a year and check for any mistakes. You can get free credit report, but you have to know where to go.

FreeCreditReport.com's ad may spell the company's name correctly but Consumer Reports says going there doesn't necessarily spell savings for consumers.

"If you click on FreeCreditReport.com's Web site to order your credit report, you're automatically billed $14.95 a month for a credit monitoring service after a free trial. So essentially your free credit report costs you about $180 a year," said Amanda Walker of Consumer Reports.

The site is just one of many credit report websites with "free" in its name that try to entice consumers. Consumer Reports ShopSmart says avoid them.

"It's money you don't have to spend. You're already entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year," said Walker.

To get those, go to Annualcreditreport.com. It's the only Web site where each year you can get free credit reports, no strings attached, from all the three major agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can also call 877-322-8228.

Once you have your credit report, Consumer Reports says check it for accuracy and possible fraud. If you find errors on your credit reports, you can get advice on what to do at ConsumerReports.org.