Bart Newman asked:




Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are nationwide consumer reporting companies required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA to provide consumers a copy of their free credit report with score each year. This Act is implemented by the Federal Trade Commission, a consumer protection agency that also promotes privacy and accuracy of information from these three companies.

In general, a credit score is the measure of credit risk computed from a collection of credit reports using a standardized formula. It includes information of your address, how you pay your bills, and whether you have filed for bankruptcy or have been sued or arrested. The scale for credit score ranges from 349 to 849; indicative, for example, that a 640 rating will most likely give you difficulty getting a good loan. This kind of information are sold by consumer reporting companies to insurers, creditors, employers and businesses for evaluation of your credit, employment, insurance and home rental.

So why would you want to have a copy of your credit report? Because it contains information whether you can get a loan and how much you will have to pay; to make sure that it is up-to-date, accurate, and complete before doing a major purchase for car, insurance, house or even to apply for a job. Getting your report on a regular basis makes you manage your accounts well and lets you venture on possible ways to improve or raise your score. This is also one of the many ways to combat identity theft which has been widespread today especially to internet-related transactions.

To get a free credit report with score, you need to provide your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number. You may also need to indicate previous addresses if you have moved in the last two years. To ensure your security, every nationwide consumer reporting company asks for information that is exclusive to you.

Along with the credit report, it is also advisable to request for credit monitoring to be updated of any strange transaction or activity on your accounts such as change of account information and opening and closing of investments and bank accounts.

Usually a free credit report with score can be accessed immediately although it may even take longer if the nationwide consumer reporting company requires more information to verify your identity.

Under a state law, consumers living in Vermont, Georgia, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland have access to free credit report with score.

Kelly

Steve Evans asked:


et your free online Experian Credit Report at the FreeCreditReport web site when you sign up for a free trial of Triple AdvantageSM Credit Monitoring. Simply fill out your information for identification purposes, answer a few questions and your credit report will be available to you on-line, in no time at all, once your identity has been confirmed.

Your Username and Password will enable you to view your credit report on some of these services for 30 days over the Internet in the most secure environment that they can provide. You will also have access to an array of benefits located in services like – My Credit Center.

Getting your free Credit Report and Credit Score is the first step in knowing your credit. Monitoring your credit report allows you to stay on top of your credit on a daily basis.

You should do this to take the guesswork out of what/\’s happening with your credit.

Your credit is one of your most important assets. Having good credit means you should have more options to borrow money at the lowest cost and from the best lenders. It also means that others who look at your credit such as landlords, insurance companies, or even prospective employers re less likely to turn you away or penalize you because you have poor credit.

Your personal credit report contains such information as your name, current and previous addresses, phone number, Social Security number, date of birth, and current and previous employers. Your spouse/\’s name may appear on your version of the credit report, but it will not appear on the version that is provided to others. This information comes from your credit applications, so its accuracy depends on your filling out the forms clearly, completely and consistently each time you apply for credit.

Creditreport.imess.net is worth a try. Many people say they have used it to monitor their credit and some have said that they also cleaned off some bad items from their credit report. You can apply for a free initial plan and get your scores and reports for free.

In all your thoughts about credit reporting do keep in mind there are 3 reporting agencies. If you keep track of when you pull each of the three then you can spread it out to one every 4 months. That would be ideal if you could do that.

Freecreditreport.com, Experian, Transunion, Equifax are all in it to make some money from providing these reports. So many people are asking where they can get a genuine free credit report without having to give up my credit card information and sign up for some monthly membership or a dumb “identity theft monitoring alert” service?

Unfortunately, in order to get your credit report a lot of the websites ask for your credit card information. They do that so when you sign up for a free trial if you don/\’t cancel within that time they can charge your account. Myfico.com is one of the best ones out there. I understand that users have reported that they signed up for there free 30 day trial and also cancelled it before the 30 days was up and indeed didn/\’t get charged anything.

What is a free credit report?

The answer lies in the last three words of your question and is self-explanatory. A free credit report is when a credit bureau provides an individual a copy of their credit report without a charge.

It/\’s exactly what it says it is. A free credit report.. in other words, you don/\’t have to pay for it.

Am I entitled for a free credit report?

I am not sure whether this is correct, but I have been told that residents of Colorado, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont are entitled under state law to one free report per year from a credit reporting agency. If you are a resident of Georgia, you are even entitled to more reports at two each year.

This is very useful especially if you have been denied credit on the basis of information in a credit report.

Who is eligible?

I am not a legal expert but I did find a statement on the web that said that based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act, sections 612 (b), (c), and (d), you are entitled to one free credit report per year directly from a credit reporting agency only if you certify that you are unemployed and seeking employment in the next 60 days, you are receiving public assistance, or you believe there are inaccuracies in your report due to fraud or have been denied credit because of information on your credit report. To get your free credit report, go directly to a credit reporting bureau and have proof of the criteria that entitles you to receive your free credit report.

Information here should not be construed as advice and it is offered without legal responsibility or liability. It must be emphasised that you should consult a professionally qualified individual or company (such as an accountant, financial adviser or solicitor for example) should you need advice on your financial situation, as they will be able to tailor their advice to your situation accordingly.

Troy