Free Credit Report...

We've all seen the commercials on TV. Get your free credit report! Do you know your credit score? Some are pretty clever. I like the one where they say: "You can keep on top of your credit, or just roll the dice? Who knows maybe what happens in your credit report stays in your credit report." Think they are mocking the Vegas monologue? Then there is that crazy commercial where that guy has a semi truck driving around with the city with his social security number written on the side swearing they can protect your credit. Everywhere you look, magazines, radio, TV, Internet pop up ads, people are talking about how important it is to know what is going on with your credit score. Now it's not that I don't agree with them, I do. I just think there are a few things that you should consider before putting your money down
on the table to get your credit score. First and foremost you do NOT have to pay to get your credit score or report. Yes, it actually is free and if you go to a web page and it request you give them a credit card number or anything else to procure that information. Please stop and exit immediately. You are entitled to your credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com once annually free. Please be sure you go to the correct address. There are tons of web address's out there stating that they are giving this service, but trust me they are charging you for it on most accounts. This web address will give you all three of your reports and yes it is important that you procure all three reports. Just because one gives you a clean bill of credit, doesn't mean either of the other two will. Case in point is a few years back I went to get a car loan. The gentleman at the car dealer didn't want to give it to me because my credit report showed I had not paid my child support in years. What is wrong with this? I don't have any children. Not only that but the guy I was suppose to be owing child support on was only two months younger than me. After checking my credit history I found a disgruntled young man who had lost a law suite against me, in which he wanted me to support him for the rest of his life due to a car accident that didn't even knock the dust off the fender, had filed that I was his mother and that I had not paid child support while he was growing up as I was suppose to. I asked the car dealer how I could possibly be the mother of someone two months younger than me and he said maybe I had been the step mother and been held accountable for this child on the disillusion of the marriage. I had never been married. I still had to go to the attorney that handled the law suite and procure documents and then get this cleaned off my record. It was a big mess. Two of the credit bureaus showed this debt. One didn't. The car company reviewed all three. This leads me to another point. If you are ever turned down for a credit card or loan, if you request it the company that turns you down is required free of charge to provide you with a copy of your credit report that they obtained the information from. Knowing your credit score and how it works can be of a big benifit in many ways. How many of you knew that a lot of companies are now checking your credit history before they hire you? That is right. Their theories are that if you can't manage your personal life then maybe you can't manage your job. They also seem to feel that if you are out of control on debt, perhaps you are not the most honest person and they don't need you as well. So this credit thing that Lord only know who came up with can really come back to bite you in the behind. If you are feeling the credit crunch there are some avenues out there to help you. Most jobs, and credit unions offer credit counsiling services. If yours doesn't then there are several right here in Fort Wayne and other local cities, like Consumer Credit Couseling, that offer a free evaluation. They can help you get back on your feet and most fees are minimal to cover staff costs. They can barter with your creditors, give you one monthly payment for all your bills and help you come up with a budget that is a sure fire winner. I know what it's like to feel lost in debt and like it's useless. You just keep getting deeper when you feel like that because you feel like: "What is the point?". Well, hopefully you'll all go out and check your credit reports. If there is something on there that doesn't jive, don't let it surprise you. After all in the credit world you are guilty until proven innocent and unfortunately you are the one that must prove your innocents. Save yourself some hassel and perhaps some money and check it out today!

To Request your Credit Report by Phone:
Call 1-877-322-8228
You will go through a simple verification process over the phone.
Your reports will be mailed to you within 15 days. Please, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
OR
To Request your Credit Report by Mail:
1. Download the https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf(You need an Adobe viewer to view the requested form. Download the free Adobe viewer) http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
2. Print and complete the form
3. Mail the completed form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Your reports will be mailed to you within 15 days. Please, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery