Did you know that it's easy for you to get a free credit report? An
amendment to the 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 companies are rolling this out across the country during a
nine-month period starting in December 2004. By September 2005,
consumers from coast to coast will have access to a free annual
credit report if they ask for it.
Here is the schedule: Western States were able to start
requesting the free report in December 2004. Midwest States can
start March of 2005. Southern States can start June 2005.
Eastern States and all Territories can start September 2005
For details on this new law promoting access to free credit
reports, and which states start at what date, go to
http://www.ftc.gov/credit.
You can order your free annual credit report online at
http://www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228, or
by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing
it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
The law allows you to order one free copy from each of the
nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months. So you
may order your reports from each of the three nationwide
consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order
from only one or two.
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.
So have this information handy in case you are asked for it and
order your free annual credit report online at
http://www.annualcreditreport.com
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