Money Matters: Free Credit Reports
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Updated: January 13, 2013
It's the start of a new year and a great time to get your fiscal health in order.
Did you know you're entitled to a free credit report each year?
Every person on the street is different and so is their financial history. But they have one thing in common. They all qualify for a free credit report.
"You should make a habit of checking it every year, it's free," said identity theft expert Eva Velasquez
You can get a free report from each of the three credit reporting agencies- Transunion, Equifax and Experian.
You should be checking to see what those big financial reporting agencies know about you and what they are telling people like your mortgage lender, your car dealer or landlord and if the information on the report is right.
"So you really want to make sure what's out there are your debts and that it's accurate," said Credit Union President Teresa Halleck.
So where do you turn to get that free report? You don't necessarily want to go to the one you see in the tv commercials (freecreditreport.com).
"No that is actually a paid for service," said Velasquez. "The website that offers the service for free, based on the law, is annualcreditreport.com."
Go to annualcreditreport.com, and in less than five minutes you'll have a free report ready to print from your computer screen.
It's a way to get a handle on your financial history and to make sure scam artists aren't stealing your identity.
"They could open something in your name, potentially if they have the right information, and have it diverted to a different mailbox, a different address and you might not know it," said Halleck. "But if you go in check your credit report, you'll recognize, wait a minute that shouldn't be there."
While you can get your credit report free every year, you won't get your score. For that you'll have to pay around $15. But the most important thing to do now is make sure what's in your report is accurate.
Did you know you're entitled to a free credit report each year?
Every person on the street is different and so is their financial history. But they have one thing in common. They all qualify for a free credit report.
"You should make a habit of checking it every year, it's free," said identity theft expert Eva Velasquez
You can get a free report from each of the three credit reporting agencies- Transunion, Equifax and Experian.
You should be checking to see what those big financial reporting agencies know about you and what they are telling people like your mortgage lender, your car dealer or landlord and if the information on the report is right.
"So you really want to make sure what's out there are your debts and that it's accurate," said Credit Union President Teresa Halleck.
So where do you turn to get that free report? You don't necessarily want to go to the one you see in the tv commercials (freecreditreport.com).
"No that is actually a paid for service," said Velasquez. "The website that offers the service for free, based on the law, is annualcreditreport.com."
Go to annualcreditreport.com, and in less than five minutes you'll have a free report ready to print from your computer screen.
It's a way to get a handle on your financial history and to make sure scam artists aren't stealing your identity.
"They could open something in your name, potentially if they have the right information, and have it diverted to a different mailbox, a different address and you might not know it," said Halleck. "But if you go in check your credit report, you'll recognize, wait a minute that shouldn't be there."
While you can get your credit report free every year, you won't get your score. For that you'll have to pay around $15. But the most important thing to do now is make sure what's in your report is accurate.
