Have You Checked Your Credit Report?

It is essential for everyone to check their credit history on a regular basis to be sure that it’s accurate and does not contain false or fraudulent information.

You can obtain FREE credit reports from each of the 3 major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These 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. Visit http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports for more information and important warnings about “imposter” websites to avoid.

Since the law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months, staggering your requests allows you to monitor your credit every 4 months.

Interestingly, over 80% of the general public does not request credit reports. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to credit fraud because you failed to regularly check your credit history.