Protect Your Credit and Credit Rating: Get the FREE Annual Credit Report You Are Entitled To!

YES, YOU CAN Stop Annoying Sales Calls & Junk Mail ! The National "Do Not Call" Registry You can register your phone (including cell phone) numbers on this website to add them to the "do-not-call" list. It's very easy -- just put in the telephone numbers you want to have removed and your e-mail address. Stop junk mail! To stop most of your junk mail, write to: Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association Attn: Department 11630860 PO Box 282 Carmel, NY 10512. Contacts and Resources Equifax www.equifax.com PO Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30349 (800) 525-6285 Experian P.O. Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013 www.experian.com TransUnion www.transunion.com PO Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634 (800) 680-7289 If your efforts to have inaccurate information removed from your credit report fail, make sure to copy this Consumer Rights Organization on all your communications with the credit card and credit reporting agencies: Consumer Response Center -- FCRA Federal Trade Commission Washington, D.C. 20580 Last resort: communicate directly with them ... Helpful Links FCRA Information : Summary of Rights Federal Trade Commission: Credit Reports & Scoring -- Know your rights! Federal Trade Commission U.S Government Identity Theft Web Site Identity Theft Complaint Form FirstGov for Consumers

Relevant Topics:

• Stop Sales Calls and Reduce Junk Mail (to the right)



• Your Credit Rating:



• The Importance of Your Credit Rating



• What does your credit score mean?



• How to Get Your Free Annual Credit Report



• Tips for Disputing Incorrect Information on your Credit Report



• How Joint Accounts Can Hurt Your Credit



• Know your legal rights ...



• ID Theft - A Growing Threat!



• ID Theft by Mail - Those unsolicitated credit applications that you receive in your mail are not only annoying, but they also increase your risk of identity theft. You can stop. Follow this link for info.



• Protect yourself from PC Viruses / Worms / Spyware

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How To Receive the Free Annual Free Credit Report You Are Legally Entitled to ...
& How Dispute Inaccurate Information:

The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. (Note: Residents of the Georgia are legally entitled to two (2) free credit reports a year. )

Additionally, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you are:

• Denied credit or employment due to your credit history
• Victimized by fraud
• Receive welfare benefits
• Unemployed but looking for work within 60 days

Many websites claim to offer “free credit reports,” “free credit scores,” or “free credit monitoring.” But, be careful. These sites are not part of the official annual free credit report program. Some sites sign you up for a supposedly “free” service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period ends. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you may be agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that, if you want to order your free annual credit report online, there is only one authorized website: annualcreditreport.com.

• To Order the TRULY Free Annual Credit Report that you are legally entitled to ...
  • Visit annualcreditreport.com
    • Please note that this website will take you to the websites of the different credit reporting agencies and those put the information in a way that you have to LOOK to find your FREE credit report links, enticing you to pay for monitoring and additional services instead. Spend a few minutes going over the webpages and make sure to click on the free credit report link. Make sure you do not provide your credit card information. You shouldn't have to do so to get your free credit report. I went through the process and was able to finally get the information I wanted - without paying a cent.
  • Call toll-free: 1-877-322-8228
  • Mail your completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to:
    Annual Credit Report Request Service
    P.O. Box 105281
    Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

Dispute Information:

If you have been a victim of an identity theft and have debts popping in on your credit report that don't belong to you, or you have to deal with the remnants of a former marriage or relationship (joint accounts - refer to the below) that impacted your credit rating - you know how difficult and frustrating it is to correct that information.

There are steps you as a consumer can take to dispute inaccurate information.

1. All three of the major national credit bureaus allow you to dispute information online; however, this may not be the best ways. Also, two of the credit report agencies require you to purchase a credit report from them online, before allowing you to dispute any information (they will ask you for a confirmation number as proof of the purchase). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is not recommending this method.



2. The FTC suggests disputing inaccurate information by mail. For the following reasons:
   • In your letter (click here for a sample dispute letter) or dispute form, each disputed item should be clearly identified. Clearly state your reasons for disputing them.
   • You should, for example, include a copy of your credit report and highlight or circle the incorrect information.
   • You should attach copies of supporting documentations together with a dispute form or any correspondence. Be sure to include copies (NOT originals) of documents that support your position.
   • Send the letter & documents to the credit bureaus to the credit bureaus by certified mail / return receipt requested as this will allow you to document and track when the credit bureaus receive your package.

   The national credit bureaus are obligated to investigate your claim within 30 days, unless your dispute is deemed frivolous. The bureaus must also provide the information provider (credit card company, mortgage lender, etc.) whose information is being disputed with all relevant information pertaining to the dispute. If the information provider determines the disputed information is incorrect, it is responsible for notifying the credit bureaus and reporting accurate information.

At the end of the investigation, the credit bureaus must provide you with the results of their investigation in writing, and if the dispute results in a change or modification to your credit report, the bureaus are also required to provide you with an updated copy of the disputed item.

If an investigation doesn’t resolve your dispute with the consumer reporting company, you can ask that a statement of the dispute be included in your file and in future reports. You also can ask the consumer reporting company to provide your statement to anyone who received a copy of your report in the recent past. You can expect to pay a fee for this service.

Also: you have the right to request from the credit bureaus that they notify anyone who received a copy of your credit report in the prior six months, and to report to them the corrections made on your report.

You can fill in this form: Request For Investigation of my Credit Report

Contacts and Resources

Equifax
www.equifax.com
PO Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30349
(800) 525-6285

Experian
P.O. Box 9556, Allen, TX 75013
www.experian.com

TransUnion
www.transunion.com
PO Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
(800) 680-7289

If your efforts to have inaccurate information removed from your credit report fail, make sure to copy this Consumer Rights Organization on all your communications with the credit card and credit reporting agencies:

Consumer Response Center -- FCRA
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, D.C. 20580

Last resort: communicate directly with them ...

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Joint Accounts - BIG MISTAKE!

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Sample Dispute Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code

Complaint Department
Name of Company
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to dispute the following information in my file. The items I dispute also are encircled on the attached copy of the report I received.

This item (identify item(s) disputed by name of source, such as creditors or tax court, and identify type of item, such as credit account, judgment, etc.) is (inaccurate or incomplete) because (describe what is inaccurate or incomplete and why). I am requesting that the item be deleted (or request another specific change) to correct the information.

Enclosed are copies of (use this sentence if applicable and describe any enclosed documentation, such as payment records, court documents) supporting my position. Please investigate this (these) matter(s) and (delete or correct) the disputed item(s) as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Your name

Enclosures: (List what you are enclosing)

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.