The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act was signed into Federal law in December 2003 (the FACT Act). The most publicized provision of the FACT Act changes the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to allow consumers a free annual credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus starting December 1, 2004. The three national credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and Trans Union.
To avoid overwhelming the credit bureaus, the FACT Act allows free annual credit reports to be available to consumers according to a staggered roll-out schedule according to your state of residence:
- Effective December 1, 2004, consumers in the Western States are eligible. (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming)
- Effective March 1, 2005, consumers in the Midwest States are eligible. (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
- Effective June 1, 2005, consumers in the Southern States are eligible. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas)
- Effective September 1, 2005, consumers in the Eastern States and all U.S. Territories are eligible. (Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and all US Territories and Possessions)
Under the new law, consumers are generally entitled to a free credit file disclosure (free credit report) from each of the nationwide credit bureaus once every 12 months.
Consumers may order their credit reports by phone, by mail, or online through a free credit report central site set up to take requests:
- To order by phone, consumers should call 877-322-8228. Reports ordered over the phone will be processed within 15 days of receipt and mailed to you.
- To order by mail, contact:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
Reports ordered by mail will be processed within 15 days of receipt and mailed to you. To order by mail it is best to use the official order form at: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/requestformfinal.pdf (you must type this address into your browser address bar for access to website)
While the central Internet site for ordering your free annual credit report is not intended to be used to market other credit report products to consumers (other than credit scores as discussed below), read and understand the conditions you agree to when you order your report lest you agree to receive marketing information and solicitations for other products from the credit bureaus.
- Credit Scores: your credit score is not part of your credit report. If you would like your credit score as part of your free annual credit report, you will be offered the opportunity to purchase it online. If the application form on the central Internet site is asking for your credit card information, it is likely because you have chosen to buy your credit score.
If you are not eligible for a free credit report under the FACT Act, please visit our home page for other credit report products available to consumers, including a free credit report offer:
CreditReporting.com
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