How to Get Your Free Credit Reports

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Recently one of my friends was the victim of identity theft. Someone took a credit card offer from his mailbox and obtained a credit card. I found that most people don't know they can get a free credit report.

The following information is about the process of getting a copy of your credit report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report? 

You can order your free annual credit report online at Annual Credit Reports, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

Warning - Don't Get Scammed 

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com 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 on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

If you want to find out more about Identity Theft here's a Squidoo Lens called Identity Theft Remedy.

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