Hopefully, you have started your 4 month rotation of obtaining your free credit reports and put it on your calendar to do. For most states, it became available in Septemebr 2005 though some have had this option longer than that. Go to: http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ not "free credit report" that you see advertised. This is a timely reminder:
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act and requires the nationwide credit bureaus to provide consumers, upon request, a free copy (effective September 1, 2005 for everyone) of their credit report once every 12 months.
Here is a suggestion to, in effect, get an update on your credit history every 4 months for FREE:
If you choose a credit report only from Equifax to start the rotation for example, then, now you can get one from Experian in 4 months, and finally then from TransUnion 4 months later (or whatever order you prefer), you will, in effect, be getting an update on your credit history every 4 months for FREE and can then repeat the process. Each reporting agency presents the material a little differently but essentially it is similar content on your credit history.
(If you are married, you can do a different reporting agency for your spouse so you can see how the reports differ).
Simply go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ and submit your request. This is the website you can use to request your free report (or by phone or mail or as shown below). I have absolutely no affiliation with this site and receive nothing from providing this free, public information to you. DO NOT GO TO ANY OTHER PLACE (for example, freecreditreport.com which is NOT necessarily free if you end up agreeing to buy a monthly service).
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PROVIDES FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT OTHER METHODS TO ACCESS THE CREDIT REPORT WITH OTHER SUGGESTIONS. THE REST IS OPTIONAL READING (you sure don't have to read beyond this unless you are a really detailed person or don't want to do this on the computer):
This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Request your Credit Report by PhoneCall 1-877-322-8228 to request your credit reports by phone. You will go through a simple verification process over the phone. Your reports will be mailed to you. Request your Credit Report by MailYou can request your credit report by mail by filling out the request form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281 Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 You must have an Adobe viewer to download the request form. Download the free Adobe viewer. For your security, and in order to ensure you are using the request form that has been authorized by the Central Source, please use the link above to download the form from this website. Only this Central Source (http://www.annualcreditreport.com/), and Equifax (at http://www.equifax.com/), Experian (at http://www.experian.com/) and TransUnion (at http://www.transunion.com/) as it's members, have been authorized by law and the government (see FTC.gov) to provide free credit reports as described on this site. We cannot ensure your personal information will be kept secure and used for proper purposes if you use forms or provide information to persons, addresses, numbers, etc. not authorized by this site or the entities listed above. If you are under 13 years of age or you are requesting a credit report for your child under 13 years of age, instructions for completing these requests can be accessed by clicking mail request for a child under 13.
A word of caution from BourGroup:
Be very careful when viewing any "promotions or advertisements" that may come up. If you avoid these options your credit report will be absolutely free with no strings attached.
For example, you will be asked if you want your FICO score for an additional cost. You will be asked if you want continuous checking of your credit file and notification if something strange occurs but this also costs money. And there are several other promotions like this that, if you choose them, will then cost you money but the new law now allows the actual credit report to be provided free.
If you live in one of these states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming), then you were eligible for your free credit report awhile ago! Other states became eligible over the year 2005. Free reports were phased into all states over 2005. The schedule for eligibility was as follows: Eligible for free report on March 1, 2005 - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Eligible for free report on June 1, 2005 - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Eligible for free report on September 1, 2005 - Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories.
An Introduction
Hi. Welcome to BourGroup and my blog. Phil
Phil Bour is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) professional since 2004, a Magna Cum Laude college graduate and an accounting professional for over 35+ years. I love numbers, statistics and economic history.
I am also an Enrolled Agent (EA) to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and to prepare tax returns.
"Phil"osophy: I believe that you can manage your money on your own (not necessarily through individual stock selection but through mutual funds, ETF's and other solutions) once you receive some one-time, professional guidance. Why pay annual fees when there may be little added value? For additional information, first read the "An Introduction" label at the left. Then move on to others.
Phil Bour is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) professional since 2004, a Magna Cum Laude college graduate and an accounting professional for over 35+ years. I love numbers, statistics and economic history.
I am also an Enrolled Agent (EA) to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and to prepare tax returns.
"Phil"osophy: I believe that you can manage your money on your own (not necessarily through individual stock selection but through mutual funds, ETF's and other solutions) once you receive some one-time, professional guidance. Why pay annual fees when there may be little added value? For additional information, first read the "An Introduction" label at the left. Then move on to others.