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The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guarantees that every consumer has the right to obtain one free report from each bureau every year. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action allowing consumers to get the free report without paying for it. However, the law does not entitle anyone to receive the credit score for free.
The Law Says
This new law emerged from actions taken by the FTC. Websites offering free credit reports must post a boxed message linking to this authorized website where consumers are able to obtain those free reports: AnnualCreditReport.com. There are no fees and no service upsells.
Federal law made AnnualCreditReport.com the only approved free reporting source. The consumer has two options. The first is to receive one merged credit report. It is created with information received from each reporting agency. The other is to receive a report from a different agency three times during the year.
The best option is to stagger your credit reports, receiving one every four months. This makes it easy to monitor new information. It is an effective way to lessen the impact identity theft could have on your life.
The Big Three
There are three credit bureaus: TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. They will not automatically send your credit report. You need to make a request using one of these methods:
&nbps;&nbps;&nbps;* Go online to the authorized source for these free credit reports: AnnualCreditReport.com.
&nbps;&nbps;&nbps;* Call toll-free and request your report at: 877-322-8228.
&nbps;&nbps;&nbps;* The FTC has a brochure called "Annual Credit Report Request" with a form on the back panel. Complete that
form and submit it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Always use this central agency. Direct contact with any credit bureau is sure to generate a fee - unless you fit some other scenario that entitles you to a second free report: loan denial, insurance application, pending employment, unemployment application or public assistance application.
Making the Score
The credit score is the resulting number from a weighted formula applied to your credit history. At 750 or higher, you are golden. At 600 or lower, you are a big risk. It is a good idea to be aware of your position, but you don’t need the actual number unless you are about to finance a "big ticket" purchase (house, car, appliance, etc.).
Individual credit bureaus are not required to make a free credit score available. However, they will honor your request for your score ... for a fee ... or you can try one of their services and obtain your score for free. Try the credit monitoring service for the designated free time period. Get your score. Cancel the service.
What else can I help you with?
How can one obtain a free National Credit Report?
One can obtain a free National Credit Report from any reputable credit report site. These include Free Credit Report, Equifax, and Annual Credit Report.
How often can you obtain a free credit report?
There are several free credit report websites that you can access to obtain a free credit report. Legally, all U.S. citizens are entitled to one free credit report per year.
Where can one find out how to obtain a free credit report?
One can find out how to obtain a free credit report by directly contacting your credit card company and requesting a free credit report, this can be done once a year.
How can one obtain a free annual credit report from Experian?
One can obtain a free annual credit report from Experian by going on the site itself. After that, click Credit Report and insert your personal information for verification and they will provide you a free annual credit report.
Where can I get free credit report scores?
You cannot get your credit score for free, but once a year you can obtain a free credit report via freecreditreport.com
What's a website I can check my credit score free?
You can obtain a free credit report from Experian once per year for free. If you try to obtain a credit report and they charge you, you may have inquired about one already.
Where can you obtain a free personal credit report?
Some credit report companies offer a month of trial period, you can use that to get a free credit report. You can also request for free annual credit report through TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
Where can I go to get some information on credit bureau?
You can obtain a free credit report from Experian once per year for free. If you try to obtain a credit report and they charge you, you may have inquired about one already.
How can I obtain a free credit report due to identity theft?
To obtain a free credit report due to identity theft, you can contact the three major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - and inform them of the identity theft. They are required by law to provide you with a free copy of your credit report in such cases.
Where can I find credit score advice online for bad credit repair?
You can obtain a free credit report from Experian once per year for free. If you try to obtain a credit report and they charge you, you may have inquired about one already.
What website can be used to obtain a free instant credit report?
Trustful websites to used to obtain a free instant credit report include creditkarma, along with the website annualcreditreport, and freecreditreport.
why is it beneficial to obtain a credit report from all 3 credit bureaus?
It is beneficial to obtain a credit report from all 3 credit bureaus because they may have discrepancies that you need to know about. Not many people know this but you can get an annual free credit report from the website annualcreditreport.com, and it really is free.
