Free Credit Reports upon request every 12 months.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was recently amended. This important amendment requires each consumer reporting agency to provide individuals with a free copy of their credit report every twelve months.
It remains up to the individual to request their copy every twelve months. This is an excellent, and overdue, amendment that helps to assist people ensure that their credit report is accurate and free of error.
A person's credit report is very important. It includes a great deal of information about an individual - not just where they live and if they pay their bills on time, but also includes details about whether you've been arrested, sued or if you've ever filed for bankruptcy. This information is collected by the three national consumer reporting agencies, who then sell it to employers, insurers, creditors and many other businesses.
It remains up to the individual to request their copy every twelve months. This is an excellent, and overdue, amendment that helps to assist people ensure that their credit report is accurate and free of error.
A person's credit report is very important. It includes a great deal of information about an individual - not just where they live and if they pay their bills on time, but also includes details about whether you've been arrested, sued or if you've ever filed for bankruptcy. This information is collected by the three national consumer reporting agencies, who then sell it to employers, insurers, creditors and many other businesses.
Ensuring that your credit report is free of errors is critically important to your life. The reality is that it's up to an individual to ensure that information contained in their credit report is accurate. If any information is inaccurate, it is then up to the individual to convince the consumer reporting agencies that it's incorrect. This is a very difficult and time consuming task, which is why so many people turn to professional credit repair agencies for help.
It is a welcome development that Americans no longer have to pay these reporting agencies a fee just to access a copy of their report every twelve months. Consumers can order a copy of their reports from each of the three national consumer reporting companies. The law allows for requests of one free copy from each of the three CRAs every 12 months.
p align="left" class="blacktext12">This new federal law came into effect on December 1, 2004. It began in the Western States and has been rolled out to all States. By September 1, 2005, every American has access to a free credit report every twelve months.
The rollout was implemented as outlined below:
Western states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Utah — access free reports starting December 1, 2004.
Midwestern states — Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, and South Dakota — access free reports beginning March 1, 2005.
Southern states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi — access free reports beginning June 1, 2005.
Eastern states — Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories - access free reports beginning September 1, 2005.
How to Order
Another benefit of this new law is that there is now one central website and one toll free number that allows you to request copies from each of the three consumer reporting agencies. Do not contact the three CRAs directly, they will charge for a copy of your report. Access free copies through one of the following methods: The website address is
www.annualcreditreport.com, and the toll free number is 1-877-322-8228. Consumers can also complete the
Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to the following address:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA
30348-5281
Important Notice about Ordering Free Annual Credit Reports
Some consumer groups are advising Americans against using the centralized website to order their free credit reports. The reason for this is due to the complications that have arisen as a result of the proliferation of illegitimate websites that direct consumers to websites that charge fees for reports, or that automatically sign up the unsuspecting consumer for credit services they do not want or need.
As well, complaints have been launched against some of the CRAs that are in charge of the centralized website. Some groups suggest that these particular CRAs are using their website affiliate programs to redirect consumers to their website, where they proceed to charge consumers for their reports.
Although this complicated situation can be difficult for consumers to understand, some groups have urged Americans to simply avoid ordering free annual credit reports online, and instead to order using the toll free number or regular mail in order to avoid potential pitfalls.
Learn more about free credit reports from the consumers protection website privacyrights.org
