Go One Place for Free Credit Reports

There are plenty of advertisements on television warning consumers about the problem of identity theft. There is one with singing pirates or singing medieval men that make identity theft almost sound like fun. One identity theft commercial has a policeman who explains he had his identity stolen. The implication is that if a policeman can become a victim then anyone can become a victim.

With the start of the New Year and the approach of tax filing season, it is the perfect time to evaluate your financial condition and making sure there are no signs of identity theft, begin planning to improve your credit history, and correct errors. For millions of Americans this means looking back at what was an extremely difficult year and half. The economic recession led to many black marks on credit reports because of foreclosures, late payments on credit cards, and loan defaults.

Unfortunately there are also millions of people right now who are facing collection agency efforts to collect past due funds. Businesses are making use of collection agencies sooner than they did in past years as the number of late payments and defaults rise. Though the law prohibits the abusive actions they used to be known for utilizing, collection agencies remain persistent and unrelenting in their demands for payment.

There are many reasons beyond checking the status of defaults on debt for verifying your credit history. People who have changed addresses sometimes fail to get statements and notices from debtors. Right now credit card companies are busy changing their interest rate and fee policies ahead of the implementation of the Credit CARD Act that places limits on these activities. One late payment is all it takes to see your interest rate double or triple and to be charged an exorbitant late payment fee. The fees for over-limits are skyrocketing too.

For all these reasons, now is the time to review your credit report. Each consumer is allowed to request a free credit history from one of the major credit bureaus each year. With the credit history you can check for the number of late payments, closed accounts, unauthorized use of your name and social security number to obtain credit, and outstanding balances compared to available credit. Any questions you have should be directed towards the company which means making a telephone call or writing a letter.

The credit history is a snapshot you can use to look for errors and identity theft. It is not your credit score though. Many consumers don’t understand this and are surprised they are unable to get their credit score until they pay a fee. The law only says you can get a free credit history or credit report.

There is only one place to go to collect your free credit report. Consumers should go to AnnualCreditReport.com and request the report. In some cases, you will be asked to download a form from AnnualCreditReport.com for completion and mailing. The site will ask you a couple of questions that you should be able to answer to confirm your identity. If your answers do not match what the site expects as the correct answer then you must mail in a form with proof of identity to get your free credit report. The fact you cannot answer the questions as expected does not necessarily mean there is a problem. Companies (like mortgage companies) are constantly merging and being bought out, and you may not be aware the name has officially changed for example. So don’t panic if the website asks you to download and mail in a form.

You can also call (877)322-8228 and request your free credit report.

One of the advantages of requesting your free credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com is that you will not be asked to buy any other services or products.

The New Year is the perfect time to get your free credit history and start the year fully informed about your credit status.

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