Free Credit Reports - How to Maintain Your Credit Profile

Maintaining your Credit Profile

Every consumer should be maintaining their credit profiles to ensure the highest scores possible. To do so, you must first order your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to a copy of your credit Report for free, provided you meet the following criteria:

? You have been denied credit because of information in your credit report within the last 60 days.

? You are currently unemployed and are seeking employment.

? You receive public assistance.

? You believe that your credit file contains errors due to fraud or identity theft.

Additionally, you also may be able to get your credit report and credit score from other business or companies. For example, if you live in California and are shopping for a home loan, the lender must provide you with your credit score by law. Several other states require that credit scores be disclosed to consumers.

It's possible to receive a free copy of your credit reports annually if you live in Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and Maryland. Recently Congress passed a law which affords each of us the right to a free credit report annually. Below is a listing of the start dates for this particular program:

Consumers in the Western states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming - can order their free reports beginning December 1, 2004.

Consumers in the Midwestern states - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin - can order their free reports beginning March 1, 2005.

Consumers in the Southern states - Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas - can order their free reports beginning June 1, 2005.

Consumers in the Eastern states - Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia - the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories can order their free reports beginning September 1, 2005.

To take advantage of the free annual credit report, please visit: www.annualcreditreport.com.

Why is it important to "maintain our credit profile"? You have to have good credit, or at least decent credit, for a lender to consider you as a worthy credit risk. With our credit score being used in everything from insurance to interest rates on loans, we need to ensure that we manage our credit properly.

There is also the an epedimic going on called Identity Theft. The FBI released a study in May 2005 which stated that Identity Theft has caused over $52.6 billion dollars in total losses for 2004. With over 4.6% of the population being effected by Identity Theft, you can never be too careful. Identity Theft is simply an individual assuming another identity, and often times leads to other financial crimes such as credit card fraud, mortgage fraud, and check fraud.

By monitoring our credit reports frequently and utilizing our credit responsibily, we can take control of our financial futures to ensure that our profiles are accurate.

For more information regarding your credit scores, credit reports or debt options currently available to you, please contact Gateway Credit Connection or visit us online at http://www.creditmonkey.com

Michael Goff is the Co-Founder of Gateway Credit Connection, helping empower consumers to take control of their personal and business finances.

---

7 Surefire Ways To Repair Bad Credit

Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you... Read More

Looking for that Low interest Credit Card?

If you have been shopping around for a Low Interest... Read More

Credit Report Hassles

There is no end to the amount of pain that... Read More

The Exact Action To Take When You Find Errors In Your Credit Report

There are times when you may be turned down for... Read More

Credit Card Traps: How To Spot Them On The Spot!

They arrive in your mail - a conspicuous looking mail... Read More

Free Credit Reports Now Available From the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has set up a new... Read More

Why Does FACTA Matter to Me?

FACTA stands for Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act. FACTA... Read More

Understanding Your Credit Score

When you apply for credit one of the first things... Read More

Credit Card Companies Are Out for Your Money

You're probably thinking "Tell me something I don't know" but... Read More

Beware of Bogus Credit Repair Companies!

So-called "credit repair" companies claim they can remove negative information... Read More

A Summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

This summary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act will explain... Read More

How To Get a Low Interest Credit Card

Consumers often have the first credit card that they ever... Read More

Small Business Credit Cards

So what do you look for when applying for a... Read More

Why Americans Find Predatory Lending Offensive

"Menis - the author translates as "indignant rage" - It... Read More

Choosing The Credit Card That Is Right For You

Credit cards represent an important part of our financial lives.... Read More

Credit Card Debt: How To Control It

A lot of people spend more money than they can... Read More

Is Your Credit Score Costing You Money?

Most of us want a good credit report to obtain... Read More

7 Consumer Credit Laws You Should Know if You are Trying to Repair Your Credit

There are seven consumer credit laws you should be aware... Read More

Credit Cards - A Blessing or a Curse?

Owning a credit card can be quite an advantage. Whether... Read More

How to Deal with Hire Purchase Debt

WHAT IS HIRE PURCHASE/CONDITIONAL SALE?Although people often talk about "buying... Read More

Credit Cards For People With Bad Credit Scores

Sometimes life lands you in a situation that causes your... Read More

How To Save Money On Credit Cards

Some credit cards offer a cash advance option. But how... Read More

ChexSystems: Who They Are and How it Affects You

ChexSystems is a company that maintains a subscriber membership service... Read More

Tackling Bad Credit

The first time I heard the term credit history was... Read More

Avoiding ID Theft and Credit Fraud

Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More

Credit Card Entrapment - The Secrets are Out

Have you ever wondered why your credit card bill is... Read More

Avoiding College Credit Card Traps

Congratulations college freshman! You're about to embark on one of... Read More

Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud

Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds... Read More

Secured Credit Cards- Consumer Tips

Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit... Read More

Rebuild & Keep Good Credit Ratings by Understanding Your Credit Cards

Secured Credit Card is similar to a prepaid credit card... Read More

Is it Safe to Use Online Car Finance?

Online car finance is convenient. You can apply over the... Read More

New Credit Advice: Dont Pay off Those Credit Cards!

Credit needed for real estate mortgage financing differs from credit... Read More

Credit Traps Snag Consumers

Nearly 20 years ago I worked for a small consumer... Read More