| Every consumer in America has the right to a free | | | | reports have errors? If you spot these errors, you can |
| credit report once every year by law as of | | | | get them cleared up before it affects your credit |
| September 2005. But since that law has passed there | | | | score. If you contact a credit bureau about an error, |
| has been nothing but confusion. | | | | they have to clear it up or remove it after thirty days |
| The web sites that say they are offering this so called | | | | by law. |
| free credit report, are asking us to give them our credit | | | | If you monitor and review your credit report, you can |
| card information. Does that sound like a free credit | | | | check to be sure that you are not a victim of identity |
| report to you? | | | | theft. If someone takes over your accounts and |
| You may have even given your credit card number to | | | | charges up thousands of dollars in debt, they can |
| these companies to sign up for a thirty day trial for a | | | | destroy your credit score in a matter of hours. |
| credit service that has almost nothing to do with | | | | These are just a couple of good reasons why you |
| getting your free credit report. | | | | want to get your free credit report once a year and |
| In all fairness, you can cancel this service after thirty | | | | inspect it just to be sure everything looks like it should. |
| days. But how many people do you think forget and | | | | You can get your free credit report online at or by |
| end up with monthly or even annual credit card | | | | phone or through the mail. |
| charges? | | | | So where do you get your credit score from? This is |
| In fact, these companies are counting on you forgetting | | | | where the confusion comes in and here is the answer. |
| about the thirty day trial and charging that fee on your | | | | The law Congress passed did not say anything about |
| credit card. But if the law says you get a free report, | | | | a credit score just one free credit report a year per |
| what's the deal? | | | | consumer. |
| A lot of people are confused about these free credit | | | | You have to pay a service to get your credit score |
| reports because of how some companies are | | | | and some companies are confusing people with the |
| marketing the free credit report. Hopefully, this | | | | way they are marketing this. They offer you a free |
| information will clear a few things up for you. | | | | credit report and score and many consumers believe |
| For people who just want the bottom line, a free credit | | | | it's their annual free credit report. |
| report is available at and this is the only official site that | | | | But if you have to sign up for a credit service they |
| helps consumers to obtain their annual free credit | | | | offer for a 30 day trial period, does that sound free? |
| report. | | | | What these companies are counting on is you |
| This site's security protocols are excellent with physical | | | | forgetting about the 30 day trial and charging a fee on |
| and technological security and encryption. That's | | | | your credit card once that trial period is over. |
| important for identity theft purposes because the | | | | It's in the fine print, but how many people actually read |
| information on your credit report should be seen by | | | | that. So here is a good common sense rule of thumb. |
| your eyes only. | | | | Any time you have to give your credit card |
| So if this site is readily available and anyone can get a | | | | information, ask yourself, "is this really free?" |
| free credit report once a year, what's the catch? Here | | | | Many of you probably know this is happening because |
| is the catch: the credit report you get from does not | | | | you have been trapped with this kind of marketing |
| have any credit scores. | | | | tactic. But for those of you that just want your annual |
| Now you may be asking, "Then what good is getting | | | | free credit report, you can at least be aware as to |
| this free credit report without a credit score?" There | | | | what is really going on and have a no nonsense way |
| are a few good reasons why you may want to look | | | | to get it. |
| at your credit report even without a credit score. | | | | Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved. |
| Did you know that more than forty percent of all credit | | | | |