Getting an Annual credit report is like getting an annual
physical check-up. During the past years, an individual would have had to fork
over $9 to get a copy of his or her credit report.
At the present time, however, consumers are entitled to get
a free annual credit report, thanks to a law passed by the United States
Congress in 2003: the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA).
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
Under this law, American citizens can avail of a copy of
their credit report every twelve months, gratis. All they have to do is log on
to Annual Credit Report, a web site made possible through the cooperation of
the top three U.S.
credit bureaus:
- Experian
- TransUnion
- Equifax
It is also possible to request individual credit reports
from these three agencies.
The free annual credit reports available can be downloaded
over the Internet. Consumers need to go the Annual Credit Report website and
follow instructions for receiving their own free annual credit report.
Methods of Obtaining Free Annual Credit Report
- The
three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central
website at AnnualCreditReport.com. You can order your reports from
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at the same time, or one at a time.
- Your
can order your free credit by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228
- You
can order you free annual credit report by Mail. Complete the Annual
Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request
Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta,
GA 30348-5281
If you receive your free annual credit report, you'll be
able to see if there's things appearing on there that don't make any sense.
For
instance, if you notice a number of charge accounts on there that you didn't
apply for, you can be pretty sure that you've been the victim of identity theft
and you can take the appropriate measures to stop the crime.
The only way you can correct inaccuracies on your annual
credit report is if you know they're there.
By getting your free annual credit
report, you'll know if there's anything that shouldn't be on there and you can
file the appropriate disputes to get incorrect information removed from your
credit report.
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