Free Credit Report

Facts About Your Credit Report

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 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. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.

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Take warning of imposter websites. Some websites claim to offer free credit reports,free credit scores, or free credit monitoring are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. In some cases, the “free” product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly free credit monitoring service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you may be unknowingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

Some imposter sites use terms like free credit reports in their domain names. Some of these “imposter” sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It’s probably a scam.

In order to get a copy of your credit report, you will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, you may have to provide your previous address. To maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. Each company may ask you for different information because the information each has in your file may come from different sources.

It is important for you to review a copy of your credit report. Your credit report has information that affects whether you can get a loan – and how much you will have to pay to borrow money. You want a copy of your credit report in order to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job. It is also esential to review your credit report to help guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information – like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number – to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your personal info to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to qualify for a loan.

Free Credit Report Facts About Your Credit Report The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) 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. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months. Featured Links Take warning of imposter websites. Some websites claim to offer free credit reports,free credit scores, or free credit monitoring are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. In some cases, the “free” product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly free credit monitoring service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you may be unknowingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card. Some imposter sites use terms like free credit reports in their domain names. Some of these “imposter” sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It’s probably a scam. In order to get a copy of your credit report, you will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, you may have to provide your previous address. To maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. Each company may ask you for different information because the information each has in your file may come from different sources. It is important for you to review a copy of your credit report. Your credit report has information that affects whether you can get a loan – and how much you will have to pay to borrow money. You want a copy of your credit report in order to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job. It is also esential to review your credit report to help guard against identity theft. That’s when someone uses your personal information – like your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number – to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your personal info to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information like that could affect your ability to qualify for a loan.