| The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair and | | | | TransUnion. All three have set up a toll free telephone |
| Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACT) give all | | | | number and a mailing address to meet the requests |
| individuals the opportunity to receive a free credit | | | | from consumers. Contacting the credit bureaus directly |
| report. Generally, you can request a free credit report | | | | will not be fruitful since they will direct you to the |
| once per year. These reports are requested from the | | | | website referred above. However you can request |
| three major credit bureaus who report on all activity | | | | the free annual copy from each of the three bureaus |
| regarding credit. The intentions of the Acts are to allow | | | | separately at different times as long as you request |
| the consumer to check the accuracy as well as the | | | | only one copy for 12 months from each bureau. |
| privacy of his or her credit report. This is underlined by | | | | Once you have filled the form on the website you will |
| the fact that FCRA and FACT are enforced with | | | | be able to see the credit report almost immediately. |
| regard to consumer reporting companies by the | | | | Using the toll free number or mailing address will get |
| Federal Trade Commission which is the main | | | | you the report within 15 days of request. However you |
| consumer protection agency in United States. | | | | should have the information needed to verify your |
| A credit report contains data regarding the consumer's | | | | identity if the credit bureau requests. |
| personal contact information, bankruptcy, as well as his | | | | Other methods to get a free credit report |
| or her very detailed credit history details. It is regularly | | | | In addition to the entitlement mentioned above .You are |
| used to evaluate his or her credit worthiness by not | | | | entitled to obtain a free credit report if you are denied |
| only financial institutions offering credit but by | | | | credit, insurance, or employment due to the contents of |
| employers and others. As such it is important to make | | | | the credit report. However you should request the |
| sure that the consumer has a right to check the credit | | | | report within 60 days of notice of such denial. |
| report in order to correct any errors or unfair | | | | Unemployed individuals looking for work, those who |
| information contained there. This also prevents anyone | | | | are on welfare, and those who have been victims of |
| else from using your identity to commit fraud since | | | | frauds or identity theft, can also request a free copy |
| such activity will become apparent when you check | | | | of the credit report. It must also be remembered that |
| the report. | | | | residents of States of Colorado, Georgia, Maine, |
| You can request the free annual copy of your credit | | | | Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont, |
| report from the website set up by the three main | | | | have access to annual credit reports free of charge |
| credit bureaus, namely Experian, Equifax, and | | | | for some time through State laws. |