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Credit Reports - Fixing Errors Can Be Difficult
Most Americans are aware that any time they try to borrow money, the lender consults with a credit report outlining the borrower's credit history. These reports are prepared by the major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, and the...
Making Good Use Of Local Banks And Credit Unions For Low Loan Rate Bargains
With the average 30 year and 15 year fixed-rate mortgages jumping up to several basis points over recent days, consumers who have been holding out hoping to catch the best level of the refinance wave may wonder if they have missed the boat. Not...
Mortgage Loans For People With Adverse Credit - How Much Should You Borrow
"How much should you borrow?" is a question people with adverse credit wrestle with. The answer is simply as much as you can afford. This is probably less than what you will qualify to borrow from a mortgage lender. To determine what you can afford,...
Tips on Finding the Best Credit Card Deals
If you are looking for a new credit card, it is certainly to your advantage to search for credit card deals. If you do your homework, you could step into some of best credit card deals offered. Getting a new credit card should not be a spur of the...
Ways to Repair Bad Credit
Bad credit can have a serious negative influence on a variety of things in your life...not only can it prevent you from getting the loan that you need or the credit card that you want, but it can also keep you from getting certain jobs or into...
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Free Credit Report – Watch Out for Scams
Many people may still not be aware of an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that Congress passed last year. This amendment allows U.S. citizens to receive a copy of their credit report, for free, once per year. The plan is being rolled out slowly in order to avoid swamping the system, but people living in the West and Midwest can receive their credit reports now, and everyone will be able to obtain a free credit report by September of this year. Those seeking a copy of their credit report should watch out, however, as not everyone who promises a “free” credit report is actually delivering one.
These free credit reports may be obtained through the official Website: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Additional information is available at the Federal Trade Commission Website at http://www.ftc.gov/credit . Obtaining a copy of your credit report through this site is easy, and only requires your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address. That would seem fairly straightforward, but there are many companies, some legitimate and some not, that are interested in attracting the business of those who seek copies of their credit report, and scams are flourishing.
Some companies have established Websites with addresses that are very similar to the address of the official site. These sites promise a free credit report, but they are actually only interested in harvesting your personal information. In addition to stealing your name, Social Security number and address, these sites may also tell you that a credit card number is
necessary to “verify” your identification. With this information, the people operating these sites can steal your identity! There are many other Websites that promise “free” credit reports, but few that actually provide them for free. One such site is currently under investigation for credit report fraud. The site promised a “free” report, but required a credit card for “identification” purposes. Customers filled out the form and received a copy of the credit report but also received a charge on their credit card for $79. Other unscrupulous companies take a more direct approach by sending spam e-mail that promises to provide free credit reports. These spam messages are almost always “phishing” expeditions that are designed only to obtain your personal information. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of your credit report, you should avoid responding to e-mail solicitations.
It is a rare occasion when you can obtain something for nothing. You can, however, receive a copy of your credit report, for free, once a year. Be aware, however, that not everyone who is promising you a free credit report intends to provide you with one.
About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.
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| National Credit Union Administration - Home Page |
| An independent federal agency that supervises and insures 7152 federal credit unions and insures 4240 state-chartered credit unions. |
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| Credit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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| FreeCreditReport.com | Free Credit Report and Credit Score Online ... |
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| Credit magazine, corporate bonds, derivatives, structured credit ... |
| Credit magazine provides information on the international credit markets for credit investors, issuers and market professionals. |
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| CUNA: The Credit Union National Association |
| News and resource directory about credit unions. |
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| Credit/Debt Management - Tools and Advice for Managing Credit and Debt |
| Drowning in debt? Trying to improve your credit score? This is the place for you. Get real world information and tips, as well as the legal low down, ... |
| credit.about.com |
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