| The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) mandates each | | | | on your credit score which actually determines how |
| of America's credit reporting companies to provide | | | | much credit you can get and what interest rates you |
| each and every citizen with a free annual credit report | | | | will be charged. If you have a high score or above |
| on request - the three companies being Experian, | | | | average rating it stands to reason that you can |
| Equifax and TransUnion. These three financial | | | | command higher loan amounts at lower interest rates |
| organizations have jointly hosted a common website | | | | compared to a person whose credit rating is not so |
| from where consumers can order their free report | | | | good. |
| online. There are many websites that offer free credit | | | | Using the personal information provided in your report, |
| reports but they are never absolutely free - they will | | | | you can also make sure that no identity theft has |
| offer this as part of some other service for which you | | | | happened using your personal identity. The list of your |
| will be charged. You need to be aware of some | | | | debts, along with your payments details, late payments |
| devious tactics followed by some of these companies | | | | and pending payments will be provided in great detail in |
| - in fact, if you make a spelling error in the website | | | | the report. By keeping a track of this, it is a simple task |
| address, you are likely to be led to a site that will | | | | to spot an identity theft that may have taken place. In |
| actually charge you for your credit information before | | | | case your identity has been stolen and has been used |
| they actually release it to you! | | | | to get loans other than what you own, you can flag it |
| The three credit agencies also provide the annual | | | | and then report it to the credit agency immediately. |
| credit report for free through a toll free telephone | | | | You can get three credit reports using one of the |
| number 1-877-322-8228 and also through a mail | | | | ways stated above - one report from each of the |
| request if you send a filled-in annual credit report | | | | credit reporting companies. You can choose to order |
| request form to Annual Credit Report Request | | | | them simultaneously or at different times. Ordering |
| Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-528. You | | | | them at three different times through the year is a |
| can get your credit history and information for free | | | | good idea because you can track your credit rating |
| only through the above avenues - any other way, | | | | through out the year. If you order the your history after |
| including contacting the three companies independently, | | | | taking a particularly heavy credit or after paying off a |
| would most likely involve some form of payment or | | | | heavy debt, it can prove to be very useful. You will |
| charges. | | | | know the exact impact the latest transaction has |
| Having learned the ways to get an annual credit report | | | | created on your rating, by comparing the current credit |
| absolutely free, you might want to know what use the | | | | report and the previous one. |
| information will be to you. A credit report is necessary | | | | Now that the uses of a credit report are apparent and |
| for you to get information about your credit worthiness; | | | | you know that there are simple ways to order three |
| that is, how the lenders in the financial market perceive | | | | credit reports absolutely free on an annual basis, you |
| you in terms of being a financial risk to them should | | | | should reap maximum benefits by making use of the |
| they loan you money. It lets you keep a close watch | | | | free service. |