Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to ask for, and receive, a free copy of your government credit report once a year. The FCRA serves to promote accurate information, held in privacy, by consumer reporting companies

Your credit report has information like where you live, how your bills are paid, whether you have been bankrupt, sued or arrested. The consumer reporting agencies sell your credit report to companies that need the information to help them make decisions about whether to lend you money, extend you credit, rent you a property, offer you insurance or give you a job.

There are several reasons why you might need your credit report. If you are going to apply for a loan, get insurance or go for a job, you might want to ensure that the information contained in your credit report is accurate and correct. Your report contains some information that can affect your ability to be approved for a loan and the cost of that loan to you.

Identity theft is a growing crime and checking the accuracy of your credit report helps to protect against it. If you have applied for, but been refused, credit, your credit report might hold information that was responsible.

You are protected by the Act and have certain rights as well. At this time, there are three consumer reporting agencies nationally, but they are combined under one mailing address, toll free number and website. You have the right to apply for a credit report from each of these agencies, once every year.

Go to the website at annualcreditreport. Com to get all the information you need. You will have to download an application to fill in and send back, or you can call the toll free number and ask for one to be sent to you. You will need to supply information like name, address, date-of-birth, social security number. If you have moved recently, your old address should be included. Before your request is filled, you may be asked to identify yourself by answering questions only you know the answer to.

The website given above is the only authorized website for credit reports. Other websites exist that claim they provide the free reports, but you usually end up paying over money or parting with personal information. Watch out for the ones that offer you a “free” service with fine print that says they will charge you after the “free” trial period is over. These website are not official and cannot access your free government credit report.

Under the terms of the Act, your privacy is guaranteed, so any emails or letters asking for personal details are a hoax. When you apply for your government credit report, you will not be asked for any details except for what is on the application form.

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