Free Credit Report

Many people may still not be aware of an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that Congress passed last year. This amendment allows U.S. citizens to receive a copy of their credit report, for free, once per year. The plan is being rolled out slowly in order to avoid swamping the system, but people living in the West and Midwest can receive their credit reports now, and everyone will be able to obtain a free credit report by September of this year. Those seeking a copy of their credit report should watch out, however, as not everyone who promises a “free” credit report is actually delivering one.

These free credit reports may be obtained through the official Website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Additional information is available at the Federal Trade Commission Website at http://www.ftc.gov/credit. Obtaining a copy of your credit report through this site is easy, and only requires your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. That would seem fairly straightforward, but there are many companies, some legitimate and some not, that are interested in attracting the business of those who seek copies of their credit report, and scams are flourishing.

Some companies have established Websites with addresses that are very similar to the address of the official site. These sites promise a free credit report, but they are actually only interested in harvesting your personal information. In addition to stealing your name, Social Security number and address, these sites may also tell you that a credit card number is necessary to “verify” your identification. With this information, the people operating these sites can steal your identity! There are many other Websites that promise “free” credit reports, but few that actually provide them for free. One such site is currently under investigation for credit report fraud. The site promised a “free” report, but required a credit card for “identification” purposes. Customers filled out the form and received a copy of the credit report but also received a charge on their credit card for $79.

Other unscrupulous companies take a more direct approach by sending spam e-mail that promises to provide free credit reports. These spam messages are almost always “phishing” expeditions that are designed only to obtain your personal information. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of your credit report, you should avoid responding to e-mail solicitations.

It is a rare occasion when you can obtain something for nothing. You can, however, receive a copy of your credit report, for free, once a year. Be aware, however, that not everyone who is promising you a free credit report intends to provide you with one.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing.

Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.

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So, you are in need of some cash. Your family members, friends, neighbors, even your golfing buddy are all tapped out. Trouble is, your car payment is due in 3 days and you can’t be late. That Pontiac Solstice sitting in your drive is a great ride, a chick magnet, and more precious to you then food. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point: you need money and you need it now! Personal loans abound and they are one solution to a crisis situation. Is a personal loan right for you? More importantly: exactly what are your options? Read on and I’ll show you the way!

Payday Loans: Payday loans have gotten a lot of press over the past few years as they are a great way to secure personal loans quickly and easily. However, fees and interest rates are high so if you aren’t planning to pay it off within a few days you’ll end up paying extra charges.

Cash Advances: Credit Cards are another way for you to secure a personal loan. By drawing on your card’s cash advance feature, you can borrow a few hundred to a few thousand dollars without seeing a loan officer. You’ll pay a fee for the privilege and the interest rate on a cash advance is quite high. However, if you can pay the loan off quickly it could be a viable personal loan alternative for you.

Equity Loans: If you own a home, your house may have some equity in it. Some lending institutions are so eager to lend money to you that they’ll approve a loan on the spot. Be careful: the rate could be high and you are putting your house on the line. That Pontiac Solstice convertible may not be worth that sort of aggravation!

Friends, Family Members: Ah, now for a test of your familial relationships. Ask Mom, Dad, Gramps, Aunt Bea, or Sis for the funds. That cold hard stare back from them probably means “no” but it could mean yes if you whimper. Groveling could help too. Seriously, a family loan could mean a low or zero interest rate for you. Better than the rate the loan shark guy at work wanted to charge you, right?

Retirement Funds: More than likely you won’t be able to tap your retirement funds within three days time, but borrowing from your 401(K) can be a wise decision. Just remember to pay the loan back with interest to avoid tax penalties. Besides, that Pontiac Solstice will look pretty ratty when it comes time to bid your work place good-bye.

Yes, you do have choices when it comes time to securing a personal loan. Some options are better than others so it behooves you to check the fine print when seeking personal loans. Personal loans can be a good option for you for the short term, but likely a long term solution could involve you getting rid of that pricey Pontiac Solstice!

Copyright 2006 - For additional information regarding Matt Keegan, The Article Writer, please visit his blog for wit, quips, and freelance writing tips.

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If you were to tell someone that they can have a certain item for free, more than likely their response would be, “what’s the catch?” In the case of credit reports there is no catch, you can now get a free copy of this report through the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, TransUnions, and Experian. Let’s take a look at the law and how you can benefit from it.

An amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires the three national credit reporting agencies to provide one free copy of your credit report to you annually. Beginning on December 1, 2004 and culminating on September 1, 2005, the Federal Trade Commission is requiring that these agencies offer reports on a rolling, phase in basis. In other words, on December 1, 2004, if you live in certain western states you became eligible at that time and every three months later additional states were added. By September 1, 2005, residents of all states are eligible.

Fortunately for consumers, you need not contact the three reporting agencies separately to obtain your free credit report. You can order right online at www.annualcreditreport.com; or by calling 877-322-8228; or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it:

Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

The form is available online where you can print it out and mail it in: www.ftc.gov/credit.

If you need copies more often, you can contact the three reporting agencies and request copies. You will pay for this service.

To buy a copy of your report, contact:

Equifax
800-685-1111
www.equifax.com

Experian
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
www.experian.com

Trans Union
800-916-8800
www.transunion.com

There are also private companies who will obtain all three copies of your credit report for you as well. There is a fee involved, but you may find their services to be less of a hassle than contacting the three companies separately.

So, how can you benefit from the law? By ordering copies of your reports from the companies on a four month rotating basis. Most consumers will find this plan to be sufficient and it will allow for you to compare/contrast the reports of each agency. Of course, if you already suspect fraud you will want to order all three reports at once and notify each agency to place a “fraud alert” in your credit file.

All in all, the new law is a big win for consumers. Take advantage of this “windfall” as soon as you become eligible to do so.

Matthew Keegan — The Article Writer — writes on a variety of business, financial, and personal interest topics. You can view additional samples of his work at http://www.thearticlewriter.com

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