Your credit report is available to you right now, you just have to reach out and grab it. The only thing that seems to me to hold people back is that they simply don't know that the report is there for the taking, for free, right now. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a Federal law which requires each of the Big 3 Major Credit Reporting Agencies to provide each and every American citizen with a free copy of your credit report, at your request. This law does not require you to have any reason other than curiosity to take a look at your credit report once every 12 months.
What keeps people from actually taking advantage of this terrific federal law? It seems that the only thing keeping them from clicking on the website or calling the phone number or even sending a simple letter in the mail is knowledge. No one seems to realize that these credit reports are available for free at any time, all it takes is a little initiative and filling out a simple form. The Federal Trade Commission or the nation's consumer protection agency, is assigned the job of enforcing the FCRA and making sure these Consumer Reporting Companies don't treat us consumers unfairly.
They are in charge of making sure to promote the privacy and accuracy of the information in the files of the Big 3 Credit Reporting Agencies. Your credit report contains information on where you live, how your bills are paid and even arrest records. The Fair Credit Reporting Act was established to help protect this private information, making sure it does not fall into the wrong hands.
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However, it seems that we are allowed to at least view our own information to verify it is accurate. Finally, the Major Credit Reporting Agencies were required by this law to establish a website, a toll free number and a mailing address with information and links to obtain these credit reports. To order, you simply need to fill out a simple form and submit it in whichever form you desire. It is not possible to simply contact the consumer reporting companies and request it, you must go through the correct channels to get the report for free.
You may order your credit report from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies at the same time, or you can order your report from each of the companies one at a time. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.