JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- As many Americans are strapped for cash credit cards are swiped more and more often.

Debt for some is racking up and credit scores are taking the hit.

There are a lot of ways to get your credit scores and credit report but the reality is that most of them charge hidden fees for their service.

For Sunday's Facebook Story of the Day, KRCG's Meghan Lane found some ways to better monitor your credit for free.

When you think of getting a free credit report your probably think of the website Freecreditreport.com, but wait just a second.

Freecreditreport.com isn't actually free.

The Federal Trade Commission said the websites name was misleading so now the website offers credit reports for $1 but says it will donate 100% of the proceeds to an online charity that helps classrooms in need.

The Credit Card Act of 2009 made companies change the way they are allowed to advertise free credit reports.

Before the act, companies would make it easy for people to skip over the small print, which often times would lead to them signing up for a monthly service.

Those services of course, had a price tag.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act now requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

So basically every four months your could get a new credit report if you use all three companies.

Annualcreditreport.com is a website the three companies have set up to allow you to order your free annual report.

Annualcreditreport.com is the only website authorized to give the free annual credit report you're entitled to under law.

But there is a downside to all of this, getting your credit score will still cost you money.

A credit report is only a written history of everything on your credit file, it doesn't include the actual score.

But you can get free credit score by signing up for a trial offer for one of many credit monitoring services.

But be sure to read the fine print and if you only want the free credit score, then be sure to cancel your enrollment within the free trial period.

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have also set up a toll-free telephone number, 1-877-322-8228 and a mailing address so you can order your free annual report.

You can mail a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.