Credit – Pay zero for your credit report

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Checking your credit report at least once a year can pay off – especially if you catch mistakes that affect your credit rating. And now you won’t have to pay for the report itself, thanks to a change in the Fair Credit Reporting Act. After Sept. 1, 2005, you can get a free credit report every year from each of the three major credit bureaus.

Even if the program is not yet available in your area, you can get a free credit report if you’re denied credit, insurance, or a job because of information in your credit report. But you must request the report within 60 days of receiving notice of the denial.

To get your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, or call toll-free 877-322-8228. You can also write to the following address.

Annual Credit Report Request Service,
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Be ready to provide your name, address, and social security number. You may also be asked for other information. Then you can choose to get just one credit report or all three – one from each bureau. If you like, you can get one now and return to check one or two of the other reports later in the year.

Perhaps the only bad news about this program is that your credit score does not come with your free credit report. However, you can choose to purchase your score when you request a free report.

If you find a mistake in your report, contact the credit bureau responsible for the report, and ask how to get the report corrected. Here’s how you can reach these organizations.

* Equifax at www.equifax.com or the phone number at the bottom of your Equifax credit report.

* Experian at www.experian.com or the number at the bottom of your Experian credit report.

* Trans Union at www.transunion.com or 800-916-8800

And here is a bonus tip. To help prevent identity theft, ignore those ads, e-mails, and telemarketing calls that promise a free credit report. After all, they could just be scammers hunting for a way to steal your identity. Don’t take the chance.



All the best,



Timben