"Free
Credit Report" offers - Are they really free?
Many
offers come with some strings attached
There are plenty of "Free Credit Report"
offers on the Internet these days, and you wonder
why. You are probably asking yourself, "Isn't
there any catch to this offer?" The answer is
YES.
You should be aware that most "Free Credit Report"
offers come with a price; it usually means "Free"
with the purchase of something else. Or, it might
mean free during a Credit Monitoring trial period.
Which ever the case may be, these "Free"
options can sometimes end up costing you $50 plus
if you are not careful. This could also apply to Credit Score pulls such as the FICO Score.
The "Free" aspect of this offer is that
you have the option of canceling your subscription
over a specified trial period for a full refund. You
should, however, cancel the subscription before it
is billed to your credit card--usually 30 days from
the purchase date.
Make sure your read the fine print: find any information
that explains why the report is free. Read the service
agreement before placing your order: all companies
should list a service agreement that you must accept
prior to submitting your order, and there is often
times valuable information that you should know
How
to get a no-strings-attached FREE credit report
Credit bureaus are bound by the Fair Credit Reporting
Act to provide you with a free credit report if you
meet these specific requirements:
· You have been denied credit, insurance,
or employment within the past sixty (60) days as a
result of your credit report. (It is the responsibility
of the company that denied you credit or employment
to indicate which credit reporting company was used,
and the phone number and address for getting the free
report. Free reports may not available over the Internet.)
· You can certify in writing that you
are unemployed and intend to apply for employment
in the 60-day period beginning on the date in which
you made the certification.
· You are a recipient of public welfare
assistance or have reason to believe that your file
at the agency contains inaccurate information due
to fraud.
· As a resident of certain states you
have a right to a free copy of your credit report:
If you are a resident of Colorado, Massachusetts,
Maryland, New Jersey, or Vermont, you may receive
one free copy of your credit report each year from
the each of the credit bureaus. If you are a resident
of Georgia, you may receive two free copies of your
credit report each year from the credit bureaus.
If you meet the above conditions, you can order a
Free copy of your Credit Report by contacting them
by mail or phone:
If you meet the above conditions, you can order a
Free copy of your Credit Report by contacting them
by mail or phone:
·
Experian
Mail: P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX
75013
Phone: (888) Experian (888-397-3742) |
 |
·
Equifax
Mail: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374
Phone (800) 685-1111 |
·
TransUnion
Mail: 2 Baldwin Place, PO Box 1000, Chester, PA
19022
Phone: (800) 888-4213 |
|
|
When you call for a free report, be sure to have the
following information about yourself ready.
· First, middle and last name (including
Jr., Sr., III)
· Current address
· Previous addresses in the past two
years, if any
· Social Security Number
· Date of birth
· Current employer
· Phone number
