It pays to analyze your credit report for accuracy. According to recent surveys by the Consumer Federation of America and the National Credit Reporting Association, 78% of files lacked information on revolving credit accounts in good standing, 33% of files lacked information on current mortgage accounts, 29% contained erroneous data relevant to late payments, and 80% of all records had errors in personal data, such as birth dates and accounts applied for.
Ask for credit reports from the following agencies. Some are free, one time per year.
Equifax:
Report fraud:
800-525-6285
Order copy of report:
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Or call: 800-685-1111
Dispute information in report:
P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Or call the phone number provided in your credit report
Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit:
800-219-1251 (California only)
Or write: Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta GA 30374-0123
Experian:
Report fraud:
888-397-3742
By mail: Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013
Order copy of report:
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
Or call: 888-397-3742
Dispute information in report:
Contact Experian at address and phone number provided on your credit report
Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit:
Call 888-567-8688
TransUnion:
Report fraud:
800-680-7289
Order copy of report:
P.O. Box 390
Springfield, PA 19064
Or call: 800-916-8800
Dispute information in report:
Call number provided on credit report or use “investigation request form” provided by TransUnion when you order your report.
Opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists:
800-680-7293
One of the easiest, and cheapest ways to obtain your personal credit report is over the Internet. It is estimated that up to 60% of all borrowers request a credit report at least once a year. If you are trying to protect your privacy, you may want to be wary of the questions about your current address, phone number, employer, and other personal data they may ask in the “Request Your Credit Report Here” form.
A recent amendment to the federal 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. Use the FTC government website www.annualcreditreport.com as your primary source for credit report data.
The Federal Trade Commission has recently discovered that identity thieves are now using your credit report data to steal your identity. According to the FTC, unwary consumers have provided data to sites offering “free credit reports.” These unscrupulous sites collect your personal data, and then use it against you. For that reason alone, you may want to stick with the FTC site listed above.