With all the penny pinching that is going on today, people will be happy to know that they can save a few bucks by getting a free credit bureau report. And the best part about it is that you can do so right online.
The benefits are endless and it’s a perfect way to save money, track identity theft, and more. And while your credit score might not be included in the report, you should still know your rights when it comes to obtaining a free credit bureau report. These are offered annually and in this article I am going to show you where to go to get one and the the advantages of doing so.
Track Identity Theft
When I was younger I found that I had a charge on my credit for Speigel. (remember that store?) The funny thing is that I wasn’t even 21 years of age yet and this was back when giving credit cards to college students wasn’t as popular. Believe it or not, I had a credit report that showed the charge which meant someone opened it up in my name. (might have been one of my relatives!) I wish back then that they would have had the fraud alert that all of the credit bureaus offer now. Thankfully I got it erased which saved me a lot of money in the long run. My identity wasn’t hurt, but my pride was. (Speigel just isn’t my thing 
)
Save Money
Well the first thing to note is that you won’t have to pay for the credit report up front, but also that checking your credit can save you potentially thousands down the road. By stopping identity theft to false claims from underhanded companies, it just pays to know your rights and keep your credit on track. Plus with all that money you can always buy that 8 track player you’ve been dying to get!
Know Your Rights
Just because there is a charge on your credit doesn’t mean you have to accept it. You have every right to dispute it and challenge the debt. You can send a letter in to the company who is accusing you of the charge and they will have to respond in 30 days. Along with that you can stop some companies from having access to your credit report all together by sending a different letter. As a consumer you have the right not only to know your credit history, but your privacy as well.
Your Credit Score Might Not Be Included…
All credit reports aren’t created equal. You have the big three who are Experian, Transunion, and Equifax. No while you may be able to get your report for free, they will not offer your credit score for free. That’s going to cost you. Depending on the situation such as buying a car or applying for a loan on the house, it might be a good option to purchase. All companies will gladly sell you this plus credit monitoring for a monthly fee.
If you want to learn how to get your free credit bureau report you can go to http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com and find out more there. If you have already recieved a free report in less than a years time then you won’t be eligible. However if you have applied for credit and was denied you can also request a credit report from the credit bureau as well.
