A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies --- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion --- to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. But there’s ONLY ONE online source that’s authorized to do so: annualcreditreport.com.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, you should beware of other sites that may look or sound similar; in some cases, very similar. While you may be able to obtain your credit information through these sites, the primary aim is to get you to pay a fee, if not for the report, then for some type of related service like monitoring your credit file. While the services are usually legitimate, the cost --- as well as your ability to obtain a free report --- is often downplayed or deliberately minimized.
The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell the name of the website, www.annualcreditreport.com because so many other sites have very similar but intentionally misleading names. Better still, the agency suggests, go to the site via the links on the Federal Trade Commission’s website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports but only with the purchase of other products.
While consumers may be offered additional products or services while visiting the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.
If you prefer requesting your free reports over the phone or via mail instead of online, you may do so as well. You can make your request by phone by calling (877) 322-8228. By mail, complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
(Information Source: Federal Trade Commission)
|
