Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report
Now that we've explored some of the ways bad credit can hurt you, let's turn it around and get you back on track.
One of the things you will need to do is get copies of your credit report.
You need to know what your credit looks like before you can repair it.
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the three major consumer credit agencies that gather information about your credit activities and crunch the numbers into a credit report.
Getting a copy of your report is easier now than it has ever been.
These companies are required to send you a free copy of your report, but ordinarily you can only request a copy once a year.
However, if you receive a notice that a company has taken "adverse action" such as denying an application for credit, insurance, or employment because of your credit status, you can ask for a free report within 60 days of the notice.
You can also ask for a free report once a year if: • You are not working and are planning to look for employment within 60 days • You are on welfare • Your report has errors because of fraud or identity theft The Federal Trade Commission recommends using a form provided annualcreditreport.
com.
This is the official site for getting a free copy of your credit report, also called a Credit File Disclosure, from the three major consumer credit agencies.
Just enter your resident state and click "Request Report" for an online application to get started.
It's that easy.
The online method allows you to see your report immediately after you verify your identity by providing your social security number and birthday.
You can also request the report by phone (call 1-877-322-8228), or mail: send the competed request form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.
O.
Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
If you use phone or mail you will have to wait up to two weeks to get the report.
You can get free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at the same time, or you can order a report from each company at different times during the year.
This could be helpful if you are checking your progress in repairing your credit.
Just order a report from a different agency every 4 months to get a look at how you are progressing.
Be sure to record who you ask for a report and when.
If you ask for additional copies from an agency within a year you will be asked to pay a fee, so be careful that you don't ask the same agency for a copy too soon.
The FTC recommends that you use the recommended AnnualCreditReport.
com link for other reasons.
You risk identity theft and you risk paying an unnecessary fee if you contact the agencies at any another address or online site.
So for safety and economy, use the recommended AnnualCreditReport.
com link.
AnnualCreditReport.
com is a safe, secure way to get the information without exposing your privacy.
Other sites promising free reports or other credit services may be luring you into a service you will ultimately pay for, so beware.
Don't pay a fee and don't give away your personal information to a non-credible source.
Now that we have a better idea of how to get credit reports, next we'll talk about how to get your credit report repaired and back on track to a healthy credit score.
One of the things you will need to do is get copies of your credit report.
You need to know what your credit looks like before you can repair it.
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the three major consumer credit agencies that gather information about your credit activities and crunch the numbers into a credit report.
Getting a copy of your report is easier now than it has ever been.
These companies are required to send you a free copy of your report, but ordinarily you can only request a copy once a year.
However, if you receive a notice that a company has taken "adverse action" such as denying an application for credit, insurance, or employment because of your credit status, you can ask for a free report within 60 days of the notice.
You can also ask for a free report once a year if: • You are not working and are planning to look for employment within 60 days • You are on welfare • Your report has errors because of fraud or identity theft The Federal Trade Commission recommends using a form provided annualcreditreport.
com.
This is the official site for getting a free copy of your credit report, also called a Credit File Disclosure, from the three major consumer credit agencies.
Just enter your resident state and click "Request Report" for an online application to get started.
It's that easy.
The online method allows you to see your report immediately after you verify your identity by providing your social security number and birthday.
You can also request the report by phone (call 1-877-322-8228), or mail: send the competed request form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.
O.
Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
If you use phone or mail you will have to wait up to two weeks to get the report.
You can get free reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at the same time, or you can order a report from each company at different times during the year.
This could be helpful if you are checking your progress in repairing your credit.
Just order a report from a different agency every 4 months to get a look at how you are progressing.
Be sure to record who you ask for a report and when.
If you ask for additional copies from an agency within a year you will be asked to pay a fee, so be careful that you don't ask the same agency for a copy too soon.
The FTC recommends that you use the recommended AnnualCreditReport.
com link for other reasons.
You risk identity theft and you risk paying an unnecessary fee if you contact the agencies at any another address or online site.
So for safety and economy, use the recommended AnnualCreditReport.
com link.
AnnualCreditReport.
com is a safe, secure way to get the information without exposing your privacy.
Other sites promising free reports or other credit services may be luring you into a service you will ultimately pay for, so beware.
Don't pay a fee and don't give away your personal information to a non-credible source.
Now that we have a better idea of how to get credit reports, next we'll talk about how to get your credit report repaired and back on track to a healthy credit score.
