Free Credit Report

According to an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can obtain a free credit report on yourself for free one time every year. However, just like with any new law or service, there are people out there looking to take advantage of you. So be aware of what you see when looking for your credit report; not every service claiming to offer you a free credit report is actually offering one.

To get your free credit report, you really only need to go to the annual credit report website. If you go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website, you will find all the information you really need to get your free credit report. You only need your name, social security number, date of birth, and address to get the free report. As easy as it is, there are still many companies out there who want to get the business of people like you who are seeking their free credit report.

One way these companies take advantage of people is by establishing a web address that is very similar to the legitimate government websites for obtaining a free credit report. They will harvest your social security number, address, and other personal information under the claim that you will get a free credit report. Remember, you can get one by going through the Federal Trade Commission. Be aware that you should never have to supply a credit card number or telephone number to obtain your free credit report. Your address, name, social security number, and date of birth are all you need.

You should never respond to an email to get your free credit report. Remember that that getting the report is a right you have. Some companies, in an effort to get your personal information, will send spam emails advertising access to your free credit report. These companies are usually just Phishing for your personal information. Never respond to emails to get your credit report. Instead, the information is easy to obtain through the proper government channels that are readily available to you.

Congress has given you the right to obtain a free credit report on yourself once every year. The government has given you access to the free report through the Federal Trade Commission website so that you do not have to worry. You will get emails, see on line advertising, and even get pop up ads that advertise free credit reports. Keep in mind, though, that many of these companies are not interested in getting you your report as much as they are getting a hold of your information. There is no reason to use these companies, legitimate or not, to obtain your free credit report when you can do it through the Federal Trade Commission. Your information is vital to your financial well being and in the wrong hands could do a lot of damage to your credit. In order to avoid these pitfalls, the best thing to do to get your free credit report is to go through the government.

If you would like more updated information on my credit report resources, or read more articles like the one you just read, please feel free to visit my credit report blog.

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Credit reporting agencies maintain electronic records of your credit activities. Today, there are three major national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. If you are planning on applying for a loan or credit anytime in the near future, it’s a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report.


For a fee, you can request a copy of your credit report at anytime by contacting one or more of the major credit agencies. Or you can receive a free copy of your credit report through one of the many credit companies available on the Internet. Our favorite source of information on credit reporting agencies on the Web is www.credit-report-credit-score.com


The Fair Credit Reporting Act was amended a few years ago to beef up consumer privacy. Under its rules, you are legally entitled to obtain your credit report from a credit reporting agency. This includes receiving a list of everyone that has requested your report.


If you have been denied credit based on information in your credit report (the creditor must provide a reason for denial), you have 60 days from the day you receive a denial notice to receive a free copy of the credit report. Additionally, the law also entitles you to receive a free credit report every 12 months if you are unemployed and seeking work within the next 60 days, are on welfare or if your report is inaccurate as a result of credit fraud.


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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published “as is” (unedited) and all URL’s are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.

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This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com

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Credit reports are, quite simply, electronic records of your credit activities. These activities can range from borrowing money to buy a car to applying for a loan or credit card or missing payments on loans you have taken. The report is generated so that potential lenders can see how you use credit and how much of it you have available.


According to Trans Union, one of the major credit bureaus, there are four major areas of content in credit reports :
1.) Identifying information, including your name, phone number, address, Social Security number and date of birth;
2.) Credit history, including payment history, including any late payments, to banks, credit card companies, retailers and other lenders;
3.) Public records, including bankruptcy filings or liens.


The fourth item is inquiries about your credit, which occur when you apply for a loan or credit card. A credit report also shows any current credit that you have. This includes amounts owed, amounts available, like on a credit card or other form of revolving credit and payment amounts on installment loans.


Do you know what is on your credit report? You can find out by visiting www.credit-report-credit-score.com and requesting your free copy.


Whether a lender is evaluating your loan request or a card company is considering whether to give you a credit card, you can be sure that the information on your credit report will influence its decision. Unfortunately, some of us mismanage credit and pay the price. We get negative information remains on a credit report that hurts our chances of getting additional credit for years. That is why it is so important to periodically check your credit report for accuracy.


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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the authors bio paragraph at the bottom of this article is included, the article is published “as is” (unedited) and all URL’s are made active hyperlinks with no syntax changes.

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About The Author

This article was written by Beth Pardue who has over 10 years of experience in the financial industry assisting clients with assorted financial needs. To learn more about credit reports or to get a free credit report online please visit: http://www.credit-report-credit-score.com

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