Order Your Free Credit Report

Consumers can get free copies of their credit report each year. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

Credit reports include a consumer's information on bill payments, residence, lawsuits, arrests and bankruptcies. The consumer reporting agencies sell this information to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate applications for credit, insurance, employment, and even for renting an apartment.

At least once a year, review each one of your three credit reports to:

• ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date before you apply for a loan, lease a car, get a credit card, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
• help guard against identity theft. If identity thieves use your information to open new account in your name, those unpaid accounts get reported on your credit.

To order your FREE reports:

• www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Call 1-877-322-8228.
• Fill out a Request Form ( print one at www.ftc.gov/credit) and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.