Yes, you can. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (FACTA) was passed by Congress to, among other things, allow consumers to monitor their own credit reports from the three main credit repositories – Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. These free credit reports may be obtained on the internet, over the phone, and through the mail through a centralized source that was established specifically for this purpose (you cannot obtain a free credit report by contacting the credit repositories directly.)On the internet go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com to get copies of all three credit reports. You can also call 877-322-8228 to obtain the credit reports by phone or you can download a form to mail in at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf.
Why should you check your credit periodically?
First, the credit reports may contain information that is inaccurate. Most of the credit you obtain, and the rate you pay, are based upon your credit history and credit score. If your credit reports have inaccurate information you may be paying more for credit than you should.
Second, all of us have heard of identity theft on the news. The key to minimizing the damage done by identity theft is to stop it as quickly as possible. By checking your credit report at least annually you can spot activity that may be identity theft and take steps to stop it as soon as possible.
What if the information on my report is inaccurate?
All three credit repositories will list the steps you need to take to dispute an inaccurate listing. When you receive your reports, simply follow the steps for each of the three credit repositories.
Another site that has a lot of great information on FACTA, identity theft, and privacy issues is www.privacyrights.org.
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