Where to Acquire Complimentary Credit Report
Copyright (c) 2011 Suzy Vanstrusen
In this article, we will discuss the steps that you can do to receive a free copy of your credit report. But first, let's discuss why you should be concerned to know what your personal report contains.
Why Check Your Personal Credit Report
The three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, TransUnion - gather credit information from banks and creditors. In some cases, a creditor may report incorrect charges in your account which can result to inaccurate reporting.
There are also instances when the bureau itself commits the error in recording the details in each consumer file. It is also likely that information from someone else's credit profile gets mixed up with your report. As a result, negative details can badly affect a person's credit rating. Your overall score may be much lower than it should be due to inaccuracies.
Based from the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers have the right to argue with the errors in their reports. Thus, by checking your own report at least once a year, you have the opportunity to check your file for errors and request for corrections immediately. How can you correct mistakes in your file?
A consumer can send a credit dispute letter to the bureau that issued his/her report. Afterwards, the bureau will conduct an investigation regarding the dispute made. The procedure can engage in 30 days, and then the bureau will launch a letter to the appellant, informing him/her about the outcome of the investigation, along with the updated copy of his/her report.
Order Your Free Credit Report
To request your free report, you can visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228. You might also launch a written appeal via registered mail at this address: Yearly Credit Report Request Examination, P.O. Box 105281, ATL, GA 30348-5281.
Take note that AnnualCreditReport.com is the only authorized resource where you can order your annual free credit report online. You might find other websites offering free reports, but remember that such offers might come with a catch. Watch out for online credit report services which might turn out to be a scam or a rip-off.
You can get one free of charge report each year from every of the three major credit bureaus. You can obtain the entire three reports at once, or you can get one report from every bureau at a time all the way through the year. The regular fee is usually $9.50 for each so if you wish to order for a second time, you must pay the standard cost.
Other Ways to Get A FREE Report
There are also other instances when you may qualify to get a free copy of your report. For instance, if you have been denied credit by a banker, a lending company or an insurance company on account of your credit report, you can request for a free copy. If you are currently unemployed and prepare to look for a job within the next 60 days, you are also allowed for a free report. In some States such as Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont, consumers are entitled to this service for free.
About the Author
Suzy Vanstrusen is a credit analyst and a writer of the website http://www.ezcreditrepairsolutions.com and has been providing consumers with tips and tricks in credit repair.
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