| How To Receive A Free Credit Report |
| Written by Michael Asu | |||
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For many years, it was difficult, if not impossible for the average person to find recourse if they were denied credit. Individuals were not allowed access to their personal credit histories, and when the law finally mandated access, the process of getting a copy of the report was cumbersome and expensive. In recent years, there has been an increase in consumer-protection legislation meant to give individuals greater power over their financial situation.
In 1970, Congress enacted the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This gave the consumer considerable rights, including access to personal credit history and the ability to dispute erroneous information. In 2003, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) was implemented, guaranteeing individuals the right to receive one free credit report every year. It’s a good idea to take advantage of this right so you can verify that all of the information on your report is correct. How to order a free credit reportFortunately, it is very easy to order a copy of your free credit report. It’s best to get it from the site organized by the big three credit reporting agencies: AnnualCreditReport.com. This is the only site authorized by FACTA, and is probably the most secure. You can also order a report with the phone number given on the website, or request it by mail, with a form provided on the website. Do not contact the credit reporting agencies directly. You are entitled to receive one free report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You may order them all at once, which is recommended if you wish to compare your information reported to all three agencies. Or, you can order a different one every few months. This is a good idea if you suspect fraud or identity theft and wish to monitor your report more closely. Keep in mind that you will be receiving your history only. If you wish to receive your credit score, there is an additional charge. Other ways to get a free reportYou are also entitled to receive a free credit report under the following circumstances:
What about all of the free credit report offers?You have probably noticed a fair amount of advertising for “free” credit report services. Be very cautious when applying for your free report through these companies, because there is almost always a catch. Most of the time, you will be required to provide credit card information and will then be billed for a monthly subscription to some sort of credit monitoring service. Most, if not all of what these services provide you can do by yourself for free. You can order your free report from the FACTA-endorsed site, and keep an eye out for anything that looks strange or unusual. Also, take advantage of security measures that many credit card companies provide for free, such as monitoring of any unusual activity. If you are truly worried about fraudulent activity showing up on your credit report, you can space your reports from the three companies out, so you can monitor every four months. If all you want is the free report, there is absolutely no reason to go with a company that makes you pay for a service you don’t need. What to do with your free reportOnce you’ve received your free report, take some time to sit down and go over it line by line. It may take you a little time to understand the format, but each report will explain what is shown in each column. Sometimes it’s easiest to use a highlighter pen to clarify which accounts are currently open. Make sure that any past accounts you know of are showing as paid off and closed. If you see any derogatory information, highlight that as well, then go back and investigate it in detail.
Make sure that dates and numbers of late payments are correct, and if a previously delinquent item was paid off in full, make sure that is noted as well. If you see any information that looks inaccurate, go back through your records immediately, so you can start the dispute process if necessary. The more often you check your credit report, the more familiar you will be with the format and the faster you will get at looking it over. Access to a free credit report is an important right for consumers and one you can use to your benefit. Knowing what’s on your credit report is a big advantage when it comes to understanding your overall financial situation. Consumers are entitled by law to a free copy of their credit report every year so they can check for errors.
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