*06/30/08, Monday – Thanks to Anton for taking my eyes off work and getting me into more internet research =P. This time, I’m interested in my credit report. I resist the urge to look into this without any research because I know checking credit report if you don’t know what you’re doing can result in 1) your credit score getting affected, 2) the site charging extra fees, 3) getting a report that isn’t complete. Well, I finally looked it up today and here’s what trusted information I got:

From Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Information:
(http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/rights.shtm)

“The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you’ve been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.”