Free Credit Reports Are Not Always Free
According to an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you
can obtain a free credit report on yourself for free one time
every year. However, just like with any new law or service,
there are people out there looking to take advantage of you. So
be aware of what you see when looking for your credit report;
not every service claiming to offer you a free credit report is
actually offering one.
To get your free credit report, you really only need to go to
the annual credit report website. If you go to the Federal Trade
Commission's website, you will find all the information you
really need to get your free credit report. You only need your
name, social security number, date of birth, and address to get
the free report. As easy as it is, there are still many
companies out there who want to get the business of people like
you who are seeking their free credit report.
One way these companies take advantage of people is by
establishing a web address that is very similar to the
legitimate government websites for obtaining a free credit
report http://www
.drakesdigest.com/category/finance-news. They will harvest
your social security number, address, and other personal
information under the claim that you will get a free credit
report. Remember, you can get one by going through the Federal
Trade Commission. Be aware that you should never have to supply
a credit card number or telephone number to obtain your free
credit report. Your address, name, social security number, and
date of birth are all you need.
You should never respond to an email to get your free credit
report. Remember that that getting the report is a right you
have. Some companies, in an effort to get your personal
information, will send spam emails advertising access to your
free credit report. These companies are usually just Phishing
for your personal information. Never respond to emails to get
your credit report. Instead, the information is easy to obtain
through the proper government channels that are readily
available to you.
Congress has given you the right to obtain a free credit report
on yourself once every year http://www.cfcreditf
reereportguide.info. The government has given you access to
the free report through the Federal Trade Commission website so
that you do not have to worry. You will get emails, see on line
advertising, and even get pop up ads that advertise free credit
reports. Keep in mind, though, that many of these companies are
not interested in getting you your report as much as they are
getting a hold of your information. There is no reason to use
these companies, legitimate or not, to obtain your free credit
report when you can do it through the Federal Trade Commission.
Your information is vital to your financial well being and in
the wrong hands could do a lot of damage to your credit. In
order to avoid these pitfalls, the best thing to do to get your
free credit report is to go through the government.