Want to See Your Credit Report?

Date Posted: Apr 15, 2008

The information provided here is from the Federal Trade Commission: www.FTC.gov

The Fair Credit Reporting Act 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.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or arrested, or have 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.

Approved versus Imposter Websites:

Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law -- annualcreditreport.com. Other websites that 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 and you may be unwittingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

Annualcreditreport.com and the nationwide consumer reporting companies will not send you an email asking for your personal information. If you get an e-mail, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, DO NOT reply or clink on any link in the message. It's probably a scam. Forward any such email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov.

What information do you need to provide to get a copy of your report?

You need to provide your name, address, SS#, 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.

It is a good idea to get a credit report fom one company and then four months later, get your credit report from another company, and get a report from the third agency four months later. This will enable you to monitor up-to-date information. Though you are entitled to a free credit report, you may have to pay to get your credit score.

For further information, go to www.ftc.gov, and click on consumer protection.