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Free Credit Reports for Centra Members
A recent amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report every 12 months upon your request. The majority of Centra Credit Union members - including those in Indiana - will be able to order their free reports beginning March 1. (Check the Web site for details regarding when consumers in your home state are eligible.)
A credit report contains information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
How to get your free report
You can order your free annual credit report by calling 877-322-8228, by going online at www.annualcreditreport.com, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form (available at www.ftc.gov/credit) and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
You will 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, such as the amount of your monthly mortgage payment. Each company may ask you for different information because the information each has in your file may come from different sources.
It is crucial to know that www.annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized source for your free annual credit report from the consumer reporting companies. If you get an e-mail or see a pop-up ad claiming it's from www.annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message - it's probably a scam. The Web site and the nationwide consumer reporting companies will not send you an e-mail asking for your personal information, nor will they call to ask for it.
Why you should get your report
You may want to review your credit report for several reasons. First, the information it contains affects whether you can get a loan - and how much you will have to pay to borrow money. Second, you should check your report to make sure the information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date before you apply for a loan for a major purchase like a house or car, buy insurance, or apply for a job.
Finally, checking your credit report will help guard against identity theft. That's when someone uses your personal information - such as your name, your Social Security number, or your credit card number - to commit fraud. Identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card account in your name. Then, when they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information could also affect your ability to get credit, insurance, or even a job.
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