(Free) Credit Report Program Starts in 13 States

[Tab]

Methinks many Americans will be needing it, given where the economy is going and how personal bankruptcies and credit debt is at an all-time high

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans who want to make sure their credit reports are accurate or check their financial histories can get the information for free under a program starting Wednesday.

The Federal Trade Commission is rolling out the service in phases. Residents in 13 Western states will get first crack at requesting a free credit report from any of the three major credit bureaus that maintain them.
...
People in Midwestern states will become eligible for free reports on March 1, followed by Southern states on June 1 and Eastern states on Sept. 1.

The FTC is staggering the requesting period to help the nation's three major credit bureaus -- Equifax Inc., Experian Information Solutions and Trans Union -- deal with an expected crush of people asking for free credit histories.
More> http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041201/credit_reports_2.html

[bufffbison]

1. good

i will admit....this is one policy of bush's i actually agree with....

obtaining credit reports and its system is a complete joke... i just hope he doesn't stop there, and actually fix the problems.

[Shakespeare]

2. This is a bogus program--they're still going to charge you to get your...

...credit score, which is the most important part of your credit report, and the first (and sometimes only) thing potential lenders look at.

NPR did a story on this today, and pointed out that they'll still be charging an additional $13 and up to also get your credit score. Bunch of fucking criminals.

[Tempest]

3. Credit scores were not the intention of the legislation

This legislation was in no way intended to getting your credit score for free.


It's intended to allow you to get a free copy of your report so you can look for signs of fraud and identity theft.

[bufffbison]

4. true..

that is true, and i do believe the credit score should be included as well for free.... But I will give bush some credit, for this effort... like i said earlier, i just hope he doesnt stop there .... he better start working on terriorism in our financial system. i've been stressing over this for the last five years... the whole system needs to be fixed..... its just full of problems...


also, there are free credit score calculators that will estimate your credit score for you. get your credit history report, enter the information whats on the report in the calculator.. and it will give you a ball park figure... the calculator i used once was close to the actual score the last time i had purchased my credit score... it estimated i have a 719-735 range credit score, but my actual score was 742.

[Unstuck In Time]

5. Just for the record, we here in The Locus of All Evil (Massachusetts)...

... have had, for years now, the right to a free annual credit report from each of the major agencies. I believe it includes the credit score, too. Though I have full confidence the Bush administration will strip us of that in the name of its Free Credit Report legislation. You know... federal law trumping state law whenever it puts $$$ in the pockets of big business.