Getting a Personal
Cash Advance in Spite
of Poor Credit

Your Credit Report is Free,
But Not Your Credit Score

You as a consumer have the opportunity to request a copy of your credit report for free each year.

The information in your credit report is used to evaluate your application for credit, insurance, employment and renting a home. In turn, you should be sure the information is accurate and up to date.

Another advantage to monitoring your credit it is one of the best ways to spot identity theft, correct errors and detect unauthorized activity.

Starting in 2004, consumers have had the right to request a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting agencies. From the beginning, however, there has been confusion about how to get the report. If you enter "free credit report" into an Internet search engine, the links you find for credit report cost money.

Web sites advertising "free" credit reports will be required to disclose clearly that consumers have a right to a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com or by telephoning 877-322-8228.

This must be prominently illustrated at the top of each page that mentions free credit reports.

While the law requires credit bureaus to provide a free credit report, they are not required to give you your credit score free. While on their web sites they offer to sell you your credit score and credit monitoring services. If you are not interested continue to the section that allows you to order your credit report.

Keep in mind that you can order all three credit reports at one time, or you can consider ordering one every four months. Staggering your reports allows you to check more often on red flags for identity theft activity. If you are considering a major purchase of an automobile or a mortgage, you should order all three credit reports. If there are mistakes or corrections need making, you know ahead of time and can file a dispute to correct the problem.

Your credit report may be requested in writing at: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Copyright 2010 Chattanooga Publishing Company

Jim Winsett, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Inc., which serves Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Submit questions to his attention by writing to Business Editor John Vass Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at jvass @ timesfreepress.com, Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee) March 19, 2010 Friday http://www.timesfreepress.com/

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