FREE
CREDIT REPORT ELIGIBILITY
3
circumstances make you eligible to obtain a free credit report:
1)
If you have been denied credit or employment based on your
credit report, you can obtain your credit report from the
company where your creditor obtained your credit report free
of charge if you request it within a 60 DAYS after receiving
the denial letter. Thus, if you receive a credit denial letter
saying that the company used Equifax to obtain your credit
history, you can get a free copy of your credit report from
Equifax if you request it within two months after your credit
was denied.
Tip:
Apply for one or two credit cards--any of those listed below
will do: all of them have no annual fee so if you're
approved---it's still free. Credit Bureaus have no way of
knowing whether you have been approved or disapproved. All
they know is that a credit card company requests your credit
report. So after you apply for these credit cards--send a
letter to credit bureaus requesting your credit history.
Unfortunately,
none of the credit bureaus accept requests for free credit
reports online. You will need either to call them or send them
a letter requesting a free credit report.
2)
If you write a letter certifying that you are either
unemployed and plan to seek employment in the next sixty days,
or you are a welfare recipient, or you believe you have been a
victim of fraud, there will be no charge for your report.
3)
If you live in Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Jersey or Vermont, you are eligible for one free copy of your
credit report each year. It must be ordered by phone or mail.
Instructions for ordering from each of the three companies are
below:
What
you will need to make your request
All
request for credit reports REQUIRE the following
information. If even one of the following is missing, the
credit bureaus will not give you a free credit report.
- Full
name (including Jr., Sr., II)
- Social
security number
- Copy
of your utility or some other bill
- Copy
of your driver licence
- Current
and previous addresses within the last 5 years
- Date
of birth
- Your
current employer (if employed)
- Signature
- Telephone
number (home)
Equifax
P. O. Box 105496,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5496
phone: 800-997-2493
In your letter, Include all information listed above |
Experian
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2104, Allen, TX 75013-2104
phone: 1 888-EXPERIAN
In your letter, Include all information listed listed
previously. |
Trans
Union
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
phone: 1-800-888-4213
|
