Free Credit Report
Although not directly related to the FDCPA, I wanted to take a minute to talk about getting free credit reports. Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) you are entitled to a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. Be very careful though, the only website I advise you to use to take advantage of this statutory right is www.annualcreditreport.com.
There are many bogus websites out there that trick you into giving them your credit card information and offering the “free credit reports” only if you subscribe to their monthly service which they argue can be cancelled at any time after you receive the reports. Speaking for myself, whenever I am offered services which will continue until cancelled, I usually incur a couple months charges before I’m reminded that I didn’t cancel the service.
www.annualcreditreport.com has been deemed the official website to enforce your FACTA credit report rights. Be very leery of any other site; even if they say its “free”. If you’re reading this blog, most likely you are being harassed by collection agencies. Save your money to pay off your debt; don’t spend it on a sham website offering you for a cost what Federal Law provides for free.
Jeffrey Hyslip
