Looking to get your free credit report online? Not sure which Web site to go to?
Now, those in search of the government-endorsed “free credit report” site should have an easier time distinguishing it from sites that claim to offer “free” reports that aren’t actually free, thanks to a Federal Trade Commission regulation that went into effect April 2. The FTC’s “Free Credit Reports Rule” mandates that sites purporting to offer free reports must display the following disclosure:
THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.GOV. You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law.
The new FTC guideline, which requires the notice at the top of every Web page that mentions free credit reports, came in response to the proliferation of “free” credit report offers online. Oftentimes, such deals “require consumers to spend money on credit monitoring or other products or services,” the FTC explained in February. Under federal law, consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit reports for each of the three major credit-reporting agencies once every 12 months. Consumers should take full advantage of this opportunity—both to identify trouble spots on their credit as well as inaccuracies that could affect their ability to get credit cards, loans, secure housing, and much more.
For more info on consumer credit report rights, the FTC suggests visiting http://www.ftc.gov/freereports.
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