Not all Free Credit Reports Are Free. SCHomeBuyers.net Knows the fa
Why should I care about my credit?
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. These consumer reporting companies sell the information to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home. None of the Credit Bureaus are directly connected to the government. However! The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - provide you with a free copy of your credit report.
Q: I Saw Those Commercials on TV!
A: WRONG!
We buy houses in South Carolina, so we understand credit and how valueable it is. Good Credit Can Save you Thousands of dollars a year in mortgages. Schomebuyers.net wants to keep you in the know!
Those commercials you see on tv offering access to your free report aren't exactly free. Sure you get your report, but you must enroll into a proactive monitoring program that notifies you when anything changes on your report. 29.95$ a month isn't even close to what the commercials claim
Here's the real secret!
The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have set up a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.
Visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. The form is on the back of this brochure; or you can print it from ftc.gov/credit. The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months.
DO NOT ENTER A CREDIT CARD NUMBER.
If you are prompted to enter a credit card number, read the fine print!! Be a cautious concsumer and guard your credit. Schomebuyers.net wants the best for you, that's why we buy houses in foreclosure.
Q: What information do I need to provide to get my free report?
A: You need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. If you have moved in the last two years, you may have to provide your previous address. To maintain the security of your file, each nationwide consumer reporting company may ask you for some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.
Q: How long does it take to get my report after I order it?
A: If you request your report online at annualcreditreport.com, you should be able to access it immediately. If you order your report by calling toll-free 1-877-322-8228, your report will be processed and mailed to you within 15 days. If you order your report by mail using the Annual Credit Report Request Form, your request will be processed and mailed to you within 15 days of receipt.
Under federal law, you're entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance, or employment, and you ask for your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company. You're also entitled to one free report a year if you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; if you're on welfare; or if your report is inaccurate because of fraud, including identity theft. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $10.50 for another copy of your report within a
12-month period.
To buy a copy of your report, contact:
- Equifax:1-800-685-1111
- Experian: 1-888-397-3742
- TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800
Under state law, consumers in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont already have free access to their credit reports.
Q: What if I find errors - either inaccuracies or incomplete information - in my credit report?
A: Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting company and the information provider (that is, the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a consumer reporting company) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take full advantage of your rights under this law, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider.
- Tell the consumer reporting company, in writing, what information you think is inaccurate.
Consumer reporting companies must investigate the items in question - usually within 30 days - unless they consider your dispute frivolous. They also must forward all the relevant data you provide about the inaccuracy to the organization that provided the information. After the information provider receives notice of a dispute from the consumer reporting company, it must investigate, review the relevant information, and report the results back to the consumer reporting company. If the information provider finds the disputed information is inaccurate, it must notify all three nationwide consumer reporting companies so they can correct the information in your file.
When the investigation is complete, the consumer reporting company must give you the written results and a free copy of your report if the dispute results in a change. (This free report does not count as your annual free report under the FACT Act.) If an item is changed or deleted, the consumer reporting company cannot put the disputed information back in your file unless the information provider verifies that it is accurate and complete. The consumer reporting company also must send you written notice that includes the name, address, and phone number of the information provider.
- Tell the creditor or other information provider in writing that you dispute an item. Many providers specify an address for disputes. If the provider reports the item to a consumer reporting company, it must include a notice of your dispute. And if you are correct - that is, if the information is found to be inaccurate - the information provider may not report it again.
Q: What can I do if the consumer reporting company or information provider won't correct the information I dispute?
A: The only Guaranteed option is to work with a Credit Repair Company. MIC Credit Repair removes ALL derogatory information on all 3 of your reports. If they can't remove all past derogatory reportings, they give you $10, 000!!! To this day, they have not paid out, because they get the job done.
Q: How long can a consumer reporting company report negative information?
A: A consumer reporting company can report most accurate negative information for seven years and bankruptcy information for 10 years. There is no time limit on reporting information about criminal convictions; information reported in response to your application for a job that pays more than $75, 000 a year; and information reported because you've applied for more than $150, 000 worth of credit or life insurance. Information about a lawsuit or an unpaid judgment against you can be reported for seven years or until the statute of limitations runs out, whichever is longer.
Q: Can anyone else can get a copy of my credit report?
A: The FCRA specifies who can access your credit report. Creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use the information in your report to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home are among those that have a legal right to access your report.
Q: Can my employer get my credit report?
A: Your employer can get a copy of your credit report only if you agree. A consumer reporting company may not provide information about you to your employer, or to a prospective employer, without your written consent.
For More Information
To file a complaint or to get free information on other consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available.
SCHomeBuyers.net is a local real estate investment company that buys houses in the Charleston area in any condition, price range, and in any situation. If you have an unwanted house you need to sell quickly for any reason whatsoever, call 843-883-3319 or visit schomebuyers.net for more information.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
