| Free Credit Reports; Soon you'll be able to get your | | | | 1, 2004. |
| credit report for free. Many financial advisors suggest | | | | Everyone in the Midwestern states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, |
| that you periodically review your credit report for | | | | Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North |
| inaccuracies or omissions. This could be especially | | | | Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin can order |
| important if you're considering making a major | | | | their free reports beginning March 1, 2005. |
| purchase, such as buying a home. | | | | Everyone in the Southern states Alabama, Arkansas, |
| Checking in advance on the accuracy of information in | | | | Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, |
| your credit file could speed the credit-granting process, | | | | Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas can |
| clean credit is a must. A recent amendment to the | | | | order their free reports beginning June 1, 2005. |
| federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires | | | | Consumers in the Eastern states Connecticut, |
| each of the credit bureau`s to provide you with free | | | | Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New |
| credit reports, at your request, once every 12 months. | | | | Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, |
| Free Credit Reports, contain information on where you | | | | Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and |
| live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been | | | | West Virginia the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and |
| sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide | | | | all U.S. territories can order their free credit report |
| credit bureau`s sell the information in your credit report | | | | beginning September 1, 2005. |
| to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses | | | | Q: How do I order my free credit report from the 3 |
| that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, | | | | major credit bureau`s? |
| insurance, employment, or renting a home. There are | | | | A: You may order your free credit reports from each |
| three nationwide credit reporting companies Equifax, | | | | of the three nationwide credit bureau`s at the same |
| Experian, and Trans Union. | | | | time, or you can order from only one or two. The law |
| Free Credit Reports Now! | | | | allows you to order one free copy from each of the |
| Everyone in the Western states will first be able to | | | | nationwide credit reporting companies every 12 |
| order their free credit reports under the federal law | | | | months. |
| beginning December 1, 2004. Consumers in other | | | | Q: What information do I have to provide to get my |
| states will be able to order their copies according to a | | | | free credit reports? |
| regional roll-out detailed below. | | | | A: You need to provide your name, address, Social |
| In recent months, consumers have asked the FTC for | | | | Security number, and date of birth. |
| more details about their rights under the federal FCRA | | | | If you have moved in the last two years, you may |
| and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) | | | | have to provide your previous address. |
| Act, which established the free credit reports program. | | | | To maintain the security of your file, each nationwide |
| They've also asked about credit reports in general. | | | | credit bureau`s may ask you for some information that |
| Here are the most frequently asked questions and the | | | | only you would know, like the amount of your monthly |
| answers. | | | | mortgage payment. |
| Q: How do I know when I'm eligible to get a free credit | | | | Each company may ask you for different information |
| report? | | | | because the information each has in your file may |
| A: Soon free credit reports will be phased in during a | | | | come from different sources. The nationwide credit |
| nine- month period, rolling from the West Coast to the | | | | reporting companies will not send you an email asking |
| East beginning December 1, 2004. Beginning | | | | for your personal information. If you get an email or |
| September 1, 2005, free credit reports will be | | | | see a pop-up ad claiming it's from any of the three |
| accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they | | | | nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply |
| live. | | | | or click on any link in the message it's probably a scam. |
| Everyone in the Western states Alaska, Arizona, | | | | Forward any email that claims to be from any of three |
| California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, | | | | credit bureau`s to the FTC's database of deceptive |
| New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming | | | | spam at . Any of three credit bureau`s also will not call |
| can order their free credit reports beginning December | | | | you to ask for your personal information. |