| The act of obtaining credit reports for free was | | | | A credit report for free is available once a year |
| mandated by a federal law enacted in 2003. The | | | | from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at |
| program was then rolled out across the country, | | | | designated websites. Instead of getting all three at |
| starting with the West Coast. Free credit reports | | | | once, get a different one each quarter. A free |
| requested online are viewable immediately upon | | | | credit report is not just a privilege for a select |
| authentication of identity. Your credit history is a | | | | few; it's the right of all to acquire. This came |
| summary of your financial history. It is a | | | | about because the United States Congress in |
| document that determines whether or not you | | | | 2003 enacted the Fair and Accurate Credit |
| get a mortgage, car loan or other loan, as well as | | | | Transactions Act (FACT), allowing every |
| what interest rate you're charged for those loans. | | | | American citizen to get a free copy of their credit |
| A free credit report is available through any of | | | | report once a year. A free credit report is |
| the three major bureaus - Trans Union, Equifax | | | | available through any of the three major bureaus. |
| and Experian - once every 12 months. If the | | | | Knowing what's on your credit report can help |
| consumer is denied lending, they can receive | | | | prevent identity fraud. |
| another free report within 60 days of the date | | | | A free credit report is that vital document you |
| they were denied a loan or lending account. This | | | | would require when applying for any type of |
| report is issued every year by the state and you | | | | financial service. Any inaccuracies and misleading |
| can attain a copy of this report and check it so | | | | data occurring anywhere on your report can lead |
| that there are no errors. This can also help you to | | | | to hassles, a lengthier processing period, and can |
| obtain a good insurance score. | | | | even result in a service being denied. |
| A free credit check is exactly what you need if | | | | If you have already used up your free report |
| you are unsure about your credit rating. It will | | | | sometime during the year and you want another |
| allow you to find out exactly what is improving or | | | | free report, just apply for credit and get turned |
| diminishing your credit rating-and also help you to | | | | down, this will allow that you get a free report to |
| determine how best to react. | | | | see what is on your credit history. |