Credit Cards: Your Access to Free Credit Reports
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. The FCRA promotes the accuracy and privacy of
information in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting companies. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency,
enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. 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. Here are
the details about your rights under the FCRA and the Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions (FACT) Act, which established the free annual credit report
program.
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How do I order my
free report?
The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central
website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which
you can order your free annual report.
To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete
the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report
Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can print it
from
ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit.
Do not contact the three nationwide consumer
reporting companies individually. They are providing free annual credit
reports only through
annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report
Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
You may order your reports from each of the three nationwide consumer
reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from
each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free
copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting
companies every 12 months.
-Federal Trade Commission |
Related Articles:
What is
FICO and why is it important to raise my FICO score?
How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
Table of Contents:
-
How to establish
credit
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Types of Credit Card Accounts
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Precautions for Choosing or
Using a Credit Card
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When You Receive Your Card
- Your Rights and Protections
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What is a Credit Report (and How Do I Get Mine)?
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How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
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Unauthorized Use of Your Account: (What to Do if Your Identity
is Stolen)
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Help and Resources
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