Information on Obtaining A Free Credit Report

The  Federal Trade Commission in conjunction with the three main national credit reporting bureaus have now set up a phone number and a website to obtain credit reports from the three main bureaus:

1 (817) 322-8228 (or via the Internet at www.annualcreditreport.com)

For security purposes, www.AnnualCreditReport.com can only be accessed by typing the above web address, or by using links from the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov), Experian (www.experian.com), Equifax (www.equifax.com ) and TransUnion (“www.transunion.com”). (You cannot simply “Google” it, or access it by a search engine.) www.AnnualCreditReport.com is the only web source authorized by the main three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies from which free annual credit file disclosures can be requested. We prefer the Experian report, though you may order all three from this sources to verify that all your reporting creditors are included. There is also good information about credit and credit reports available on this website. *Remember, this will not be a complete list of every entity you owe money to, as many companies do not report to credit bureaus. This will allow you to make sure you have not missed any that report. And we still need you to complete a “creditor information sheet” for ALL creditors, including those listed on your report.

Colorado (and now Federal) law provides that you may receive one free credit report each year from each bureau (so you may get all three once every twelve months, or seperately (example; one each four months). You should receive your credit report(s) in the mail in about 7 to 10 days. It is possible to download and print your report directly with a computer and printer by accessing the website.

If you are unable to obtain your report this way, and are willing to pay $20.00 for an individual, or $35.00 for a married couple, you can obtain a copy of your TransUnion report while you wait at Alert Credit Bureau, Inc., 3300 E. 1st Ave., Suite 200, Denver, CO (ph# 303-825-8469).  Be sure to inform them that you want addresses for your creditors, also referred to as “decodes.”