3 Totally Free Ways to Get Your Credit Report



Posted: Sunday, November 20, 2005

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You can now get your credit report without paying a dime. And unlike before, now it is truly free. No longer do you have to sign up for a "free" credit report by signing up for "credit monitoring protection service" for a low annual fee of $79 a year! The days of dodging the annoying charges and service fees for a free credit report are over.

Under the 2003 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, you have the right to a free copy of your credit report within a 12 month period from the big three credit report bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). The goal of this new government act is to ensure that Americans have the right to stay informed about what these three credit reporting bureaus say about you without having to pay for it. Since identity theft, fraud and errors are quite common today, why should you have to pay for a copy of a report to fight back against these problems?

Here are the 3 ways to get your free annual credit report:

1) The three credit reporting agencies have created a website to request your annual credit report. Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to order your report.

2) Call (877) 322-8228 to request your free credit report.

3) Complete a form from the Federal Trade Comission, http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/include/requestformfinal.pdf and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

If you go directly to the three agencies or use any other type of service you may end up having to pay or sign up for the subscription services I mentioned above! Make sure you use one of the 3 methods I have listed to get your annual free credit report.

You can get the reports from all 3 agencies at once or stagger the reports from each one during the course of 1 year. The advantage of staggering the reports that you receive is to keep track of how any major changes in your financial picture affect what is on your credit report. For example, if you plan on getting a second mortgage over the coming year, or applying for student loans, ect. it might be wise to get a report before and after these major events!

This new Act does not supplant the other methods you can take advantage of to receive a free credit report. If you are applying for unemployment or been denied a loan, or need a credit report in order to get a job, you still have the right to obtain a free credit report.

Take advantage of this new government regulation and make sure all of the information listed by all three credit reporting agencies are correct. Any errors or omissions can reduce your credit score and end up costing you a lot of money when you apply for any type of credit.

Greg Quincy is the publisher of the website www.financialtipsforyou.com, offering his insights and personal finance budget tips that he has gained from working in the financial industry and the economic challenges of raising a family. Copyright © 2005 FinancialTipsForYou.

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More comments
» left by roy
from Hardtner
4 years 124 days ago.
i had to pay for my credit report
» left by Barry Smith
from Baxter Springs, KS
4 years 50 days ago.
Can I get a totally free credit score also I got he credit report but would like a credit score for free can you assist me?
» left by debbie from UK 4 years 10 days ago.
i could not get credit report they wanted my card no So its nor free there AD is miss leading
» left by Dwaine
from Dallas TX
3 years 355 days ago.
Greg, many thanks to you and your team for supplying such vital information to consumers like myself. It seems that everyone on the internet is out to make a buck. Even those who seem legitimate, at futher examination are not. Your information is accurate and very helpful. Thanks-a-million. D.G.- Dallas,Tx.
» left by JoAnna
from North Carolina
3 years 212 days ago.
No!!!.I just want a free credit report. Everyone just wants your cc #. If credit is of such high importance then the credit report should be free!!!
» left by Anonymous 3 years 127 days ago.
how can i get a free credit score? i got a free report
» left by Anonymous 3 years 6 days ago.
I COULD NOT GET MY REPORT ,BECAUSE IM NOT GOWING TO GIVE THEM MY CARD NUMBER.
» left by Anonymous 2 years 216 days ago.
This is just another scam to get a credit card number.
» left by derick from davis 2 years 206 days ago.
credit card companies should put thier helmets on tight and slam them down hard vand mabe they would get the point free credit report= free no credit card needed
» left by dale from vancouver,wa 1 year 354 days ago.
This is just another way of making money for the well to do.Honest people trying to make it and some sorry company that has a greed problem has to key off people went the times are as tuff as they are,and you wonder why this country is in the shape it's in today...

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