F is for FREE Annual Credit Report

"F" is for FREE. What is free without lots of adds trying to solicit your business; how about a free credit report. Have you ever wondered why they would go to the expense of advertising something for FREE?

Well, I imagine you have guessed the correct answer. It's because its not really free. You have to sign up for a service by giving them account or credit card information. So, how is their service free. Well, some services allow you to cancel your agreement within a given number of days, and be charged nothing. So, it's really not free if you have to do extra work to get it.

The good news is, there actually is a source for getting a free credit report once every 12 months. It is from annualcreditreport.com. According to the Federal Trade Commission, annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized source to get your free annual credit report under federal law. You can go to their website or call 877-322-8228. You can also order by mail by filling out the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to

Annual Credit Report Request Service

P.O. Box 105281

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

The following is taken from the FTC website.

What is AnnualCreditReport.com?

AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized source for the free annual credit report that's yours by law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to your credit report for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission has received complaints from consumers who thought they were ordering their free annual credit report, and yet couldn't get it without paying fees or buying other services. TV ads, email offers, or online search results may tout "free" credit reports, but there is only one authorized source for a truly free credit report.

I’ve seen a box at the top of some websites saying:

"You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law."

What’s this about?

A new law requires commercial websites that say they offer free credit reports to include a box letting you know you can get a free credit report at www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Click on the link to www.AnnualCreditReport.com, the only place to get the free report that's yours by law.

Many companies claim to offer free credit reports – and some do. But others give you a report only if you buy other products or services. Still others say they’re giving you a “free” report and then bill you for services you have to cancel. If you go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com and follow the prompts for your free credit report, you can be sure the reports you get really are free.

How do I request my free credit report?

You can request your free report online, by phone or by mail. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or fill out the Annual Credit Report Request form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.  No matter how you request your report, you have the option to request all three reports at once or to order one report at a time.  By requesting the reports separately, you can monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year.  

Why should I request my credit report?

Because the information in your credit report is used to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, and renting a home, you should be sure the information is accurate and up-to-date.  In addition, monitoring your credit is one of the best ways to spot identity theft.  Check your credit report at least once a year to correct errors and detect unauthorized activity. 

What should I look for when I review my credit report?

If you see accounts you don’t recognize or information that is inaccurate, contact the credit reporting agency and the information provider.  For more information, read the FTC’s tips on how to dispute credit errors. 
If you suspect identity theft, you may need to place a fraud alert on your credit report, close compromised accounts, file a complaint with the FTC, or file a police report.  Start by visiting the FTC’s identity theft website.

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Financial Fatigue    Cleveland Area Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bill Balena   

First    Northern California Bankruptcy Lawyer, Cathy Moran   

Foreclosure    Colorado Springs Bankruptcy Attorney Bob Doig   

Foreclosure    Kauai Bankruptcy Attorney, Stuart Ing   

Foreclosure    Jacksonville Bankruptcy Attorney, Monica D. Shepard   

Forgiveness of Debt    Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney, Mark J. Markus   

Forms    Jacksonville, Florida Bankruptcy Attorney, J. Dinkins G. Grange   

Fraud    Philadelphia Bankruptcy Attorney, Kim Coleman   

Fraudulent Transfer    Allen Park, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney, Christopher McAvoy   

Fraudulent Transfer    San Francisco Bankruptcy Attorney, Jeena Cho   

Free Consultation    Wisconsin Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bret Nason   

Fresh Start    Marin County Bankruptcy Attorney, Catherine Eranthe   

Fresh Start    Metro Richmond Consumer and Bankruptcy Attorney, Mitchell Goldstein   

Fresh start    Daniel J. Winter, Chicago Bankruptcy Lawyer   

Future Flow Agreement    New York Bankruptcy Lawyer, Jay S. Fleischman   

Free Consultation    Livonia, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney, Peter Behrmann   

Bankruptcy Attorney Fees    Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney Kurt OKeefe   

Filing Requirements    Miami Bankruptcy Attorney, Dorota Trzeciecka