Personal Finance Care

Every US citizen must review their credit report periodically to check if all the accounts are reported correctly by their information providers and there is no possible identity theft. If you are suspecting an identity theft when it is still in the early stages, you will be able to take necessary actions after reviewing each account on your credit file. Every US consumer is guaranteed at least one free credit report in a year from each credit reporting agency. Many people do not have a fair idea of how to order their free credit copy and where to look for it. Below you will find necessary information of how to order your credit report via internet, phone and by US mail.

• How to Order Your Free Credit Report via the Internet?

Internet is the easiest and the most convenient way of ordering your credit report. You will be able to view your credit report online on the three national credit reporting agencies within several minutes, as opposed to several days if you order your copies by US mail. If you find any incorrect item on your credit copy, you will be able to dispute it instantly. The credit reporting agency will verify the item with your information providers and if your dispute is found to be correct, the item will be removed from your credit report. You can start this process by going to the website www.annualcreditreport.com affiliated with the Federal Trade Commission. You will be able to pull a free copy of your credit report from each credit reporting agency when you order it from the Annual Credit Report website. In order to pass the security check, you will have to answer a few questions that must be known to you only. This is to prevent any fraudulent activity if someone else is trying to pull your credit report.

• How to Order Your Free Credit Report by Phone?

If you want to order a copy of your credit report by phone, you may call the toll free number 1-877-322-8228 and request for a credit copy. Once you have called this number and ordered for a copy, your free credit report will be delivered to your mailing address by US mail within 2 weeks.

• How to Order Your Free Credit Report by U.S. Mail?

You also have the option to order your credit report by US mail. This is the slowest option because it takes several days for the credit bureaus to first receive your request and then send it by US mail. You can make your request for a free credit report on the website www.annualcreditreport.com and mailing it to

Annual Credit Report

Request Service

P.O. Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

When you are viewing your credit report on the annual credit report website, make sure that you take a print out of the free copy and save a copy in your computer. Once you have closed the credit report on a certain credit reporting agency website, you will not be able to access it again for a full year, unless you pay a fee. You should make sure that you have a copy of your credit report from the credit reporting agency before moving on to the next one. Thoroughly checking your free credit reports for errors and unauthorized inquiries is the best way to make sure your identity has remained safe and that your accounts are reporting as they should be, and your credit scores are calculated accurately.

Posted by admin | Posted in Credit, Credit Report |

Tags: Credit, Credit Report