Learning how to get a free credit report is simple. You can go to the home page of this site to
find out how. But learning what to do after you get your report is an even more important idea.
Because studies have shown that 50% to 70% of credit reports have at least one error. The Fair
Credit Reporting Act(FCRA) was written to ensure the accuracy, fairness and privacy of your
credit report information.And after you find out how to get a free credit report, you should know
how to take care of any errors that are in it.
The FCRA establishes your rights and provides the rules that credit bureaus must follow
when maintaining and distributing your credit report. Your most basic right is to know what is
in your credit report and to be able to get a copy. It even specifies how to get a free credit report.
If you apply for credit and something in your report is used against you, you must be given the
name, address and telephone number of the credit bureau that supplied the report. And if you
contact the credit bureau within 60 days of the credit rejection, you're entitled to receive a free
copy of your credit report.
If there's an error or omission in your credit report, you have the right to have it
investigated. The credit bureau must check any disputed item that's not frivolous and
either correct or remove it. After being notified of the dispute, the bureau will contact the
supplier of the item to verify its accuracy. When the investigation is completed, usually
within 30 days, the credit bureau must give you a report of its conclusion.
If the item is in error, the item's supplier must notify other national credit bureaus of
the fact. And this correction offers another way of how to get a free credit report. Because the
credit bureau must also send you a free copy of your corrected credit report. Also if you ask,
the bureau must pass along the change to anyone who requested your report in the last six
months or two years if an employer.
If a disputed item is not verified then it's removed. But if it's later verified and reinserted
in your credit report then you must be alerted to the change.
If the actions taken on the dispute don't sufficiently resolve the matter, you have the right
to have included a statement of your view of the item. The statement can be up to 100 words
and will be included in future copies of your credit report.
To find a simple way of how to get a free credit report and free 30 days of credit monitoring,
please go to
free instant credit reports.
