It is wise to review your credit report on a regular basis for a variety of reasons including to ensure accuracy of information, prevent or stop identity theft, and to keep tabs on what I like to call passive-aggressive debt collection.  If you have unpaid consumer debts or debts that were discharged in bankruptcy you should be aware of this tactic.  Even though you are not receiving harassing letters or phone calls, a debt collector may still be attempting to collect a debt by reporting it on your credit report.  In many instances, the information provided to the credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) is not accurate.  This is especially true of debts discharged in bankruptcy.

 I encourage you to visit www.annualcreditreport.com to order your FREE credit report.  You are entitled to receive one free credit report from each of the credit reporting agencies per year.  This is the free site…do not be fooled by commercial sites.  If a website is asking you for a fee or to sign up for a service, it is not the FREE site.  If you prefer to order your credit reports by phone or mail, the following will assist you:

To Request Your Credit Report by Phone

• Call 1-877-322-8228
• You will go through a simple verification process.
• Your reports will be mailed to you within fifteen (15) days.

 To Request Your Credit Report by Mail

• Go to www.annualcreditreport.com and download the request form.
• Print and complete the form.
• 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 fifteen (15) days.

If you receive your credit reports and have questions or concerns about any of the information contained in them, you should contact an experienced consumer attorney for advice and assistance.

(Copyright - Amy B. Good-Ashman 2008)

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