When I’m surfing the web I usually manage to encounter at least one, if not several advertisements for a “free credit report.” The companies have pop up ads, ads on the side of web pages, and will often send me emails telling me how important it is to check my credit report, and encouraging me to visit their site immediately so I can enjoy the benefits of their free service.
Every single one of these sites to some extent is a scam in my opinion. If you click on the ink, or visit the website, in every single instance I’ve encountered, the company wants to charge you something as well.
Your credit report may be free, but signing up to get it will also sign you up in a credit reporting service that will conveniently charge your credit card every month $39.95. In some cases the website is not trying to sell you a credit reporting service, but will require you to complete offers that do in fact cost money before giving you what you came there for free for.
Did you know there is one website where you can actually get your credit report for free?
AnnualCreditReport.com is a website that allows you to check your credit report for free once a year using the three biggest credit reporting agencies Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
The free versions of the credit reports do not include your credit score, which is what most lenders use to determine whether or not to offer you credit. The credit reports will contain information about all of your open accounts as well as any charge offs you may have had or collections you might have on file.
Now in an age of identity theft, it is very important to check your credit report at least once a year. Checking your credit report can help you catch identity theft early, by noticing any accounts that are on your file that may not be yours. In some cases the errors might even be clerical ones somewhere along the way. The faster you catch them, the smaller the damage they can do to you.
When was the last time you checked your credit report?
Related Articles