In 2004, Congress amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, also known as the FACT Act or FACTA. One of the many new benefits to consumers under the FACTA was a free annual credit report. In addition to the free annual credit report, you are entitled to a free credit report if you are denied credit as a result of information reported by a credit reporting agency.
While it is possible to access your credit report online, some credit reporting companies require consumers to give up important rights in order to access their credit report through their website. Also, it can be confusing navigating the many links to purchase services that you do not necessarily need. A better way is to request it by mail.
Consumers can request their free annual credit report by writing to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The request form is available at the annualcreditreport.com website.
You should receive a copy of your Equifax, Experian and Trans Union credit reports (also known as "consumer reports," "credit files," and "consumer disclosures") in the mail within a few weeks. You should review the entire credit report for accuracy. If there is false information in your credit report, you have a right to dispute the false credit reports with the credit reporting agency.
Click here for information about how to dispute false credit reports.
If you require legal representation or advice about identity theft or false credit reports, please contact Baxter & Baxter, LLP.
