Free Credit Report - Now You Can Get All Three Of Your Credit Reports Online For Free Annually

Want a free credit report? If you're a resident of a Western or Midwestern state, go directly to AnnualCreditReport.com or call toll-free: 1-877-322-8228. Yes, the FTC has been looking out for you. They passed a new amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 2003 that is currently rolling out across the nation to bring us all easier access to the information the credit agencies: Equifax, Experian (formerly TRW), & TransUnion provide to mortgage brokers, credit card companies, employers, and landlords to size us up for new loans, mortgages, credit cards, or lines of credit. Don't contact the credit agencies directly, they are only providing the free reports through the special channels set up to implement the FTC's ruling: the website & phone number listed above or the address: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The reports are now available online totally, absolutely, completely, and really for free to residents of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The rest of the rollout continues as follows:

• Southern States - June 1, 2005 - This includes residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas
• Eastern States - September 1, 2005 for residents of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico and all US territories.

If you're a resident of Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont, your credit reports are free under state law, but you will need to contact each credit bureau individually: Equifax - 1.800.685.1111, Experian - 1.888.EXPERIAN (1.888.397.3742), and TransUnion - 1.800.916.8800.

Additional Free Reports:

As usual, your reports are free directly from the credit agencies anytime in the following situations:

• You were denied credit based on something on your credit report in the last 60 days
• Your were denied employment based on something on your credit report
• You believe your report contains fraudulent information
• You receive public assistance
• You are unemployed and plan to apply for unemployment within the next 60 days

The reports and services the credit bureaus offer online directly through their websites are confusing. Most have a number of offers that are FREE with a trial to their credit monitoring services. To access the truly free reports you are entitled to in the above situations, don't bother wading through the clutter and sales pitch at the website. Easy access to the free reports directly form the credit bureaus without a credit card or with no obligation could not be found. It is easier to pick-up the phone at the numbers listed above and have them send you your free report. If you need instant access to your credit report and can't wait until they are free to you online, then you will need to shell out about $10 for each credit report at each credit reporting agency.