You may not know it but you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report once a year from Equifax, Experian and Trans Union!These three major credit reporting companies, maintain a profile of how you pay your bills, what type of mortgage loan you qualify for and whether you've been sued or filed for bankruptcy.
However, this free credit reporting service is not available in all areas of
United States yet.
The service has been available in twelve western United States since January 1, 2005. It is now available in Midwestern states since March 1, 2005.
On June 1, 2005 service will be available to individuals in Southern United States and for those in Eastern United States starting September 1, 2005.
This service is provided under Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT). It is in response to raising number of identity thief reported in U.S.
The law lets you see what lenders, prospective employers or prospective landlords see.
An addition goal is to help you spot identity theft by letting you to see a list of all credit accounts open in your name. For you to view your report regularly may be best ways you have to determine how your credit rating stands and if you have been a victim of identity theft.
You have ability to request one credit report from each of three credit reporting companies once a year.
The best way to make most of this free credit report opportunity is by ordering a credit report from one of three credit companies every three-four months. In that way you can monitor your credit regularly at no cost.
The official website that you can get your credit report information is -- www.annualcreditreport.com.
Once you are at site, you will able to link to three credit companies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, special web pages to get your credit report.
However, be aware of advertising on each agency's free credit report site that may lead you to believe that you must purchase one or more of there other services, like your personal credit score number, to get your free credit report.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act does not prevent these credit reporting companies from advertising their other services before you are able to get to your free credit report.
When you are at one of credit reporting company’s site pages it is not clear that you may get your free credit report without purchasing any of company’s other services.
As you visit credit reporting company’s site you may get impression that you must pay to see your “credit score” (also called a FICO score) before you are able to see your free credit report.
This is not case, your credit score is number calculated on a scale between about 300 and 925. It is used when you're buying a new car, house or other major purchases. You'll still have to pay one of credit companies a fee to see that number. This credit score number is different from information within your free credit report.
The official site is separate from credit reporting companies’ regular sites, where you still must pay to get your credit information.
In addition, there are a few look-alike sites you may confuse with official free credit report site. These other sites may have been setup for outright credit fraud. Be very careful that you are working with official site setup and maintained by Central Source, a joint venture among three credit companies to process these free credit reports -- www.annualcreditreport.com. If you receive an offer through mail, via phone call or an email to provide your credit report for a fee, it is probably fraudulent.
Here's how to Request your free Credit Report
Online: www.annualcreditreport.com.
Or you can call toll-free: 877-322-8228
Or order by mail: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
If you request report by mail you must mail in a request form available on site of Federal Trade Commission:
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/docs/factactrequestform.pdf
The reports are sent to you within 15 days.
If you're ordering your report online, it's best to go to www.annualcreditreport.com site directly rather than to go through one of three credit reporting company’s sites. You may get your free report at their sites but you first must go through their advertising for monthly credit-monitoring programs and other services they offer to get your free report.
If you do this inquiry online, be sure to do your inquiry from your home computer because you'll need to have certain financial information handy to answer security questions.
You'll be asked a series of personal questions to make sure you are person that you say you are, including your birth date and Social Security number.
Central Source says its security protocols and measures protect personal information from unauthorized access or record alteration. In addition, your Social Security number is encrypted for your additional protection.
And you can request that just last four digits of that number appear on your printed credit report.
As mentioned above, you may request one report from each credit company once a year. To get best use of this free service, it's best to request your credit report from one credit company this month and request your credit report from another credit company about three-four months latter. Then request third version of your report about three-four months after that.
