Protect Yourself from Bad Credit and Identity Theft
Get Your FREE Credit Report Now
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In 2005, nearly 8,000 Pennsylvanians experienced the devastation of having their identities
stolen. You can help protect yourself from identity theft by regularly checking your credit report for
accuracy and unusual activity. This will also show you if your credit history has been properly reported
by banks and other companies with whom you have done business.
Below you will find all the information
you need to obtain a free credit report once a year from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting
companies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The Pennsylvania Treasury Department strongly encourages you to take advantage of this free
service.
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To order your free credit report:
Online:
www.annualcreditreport.com
or
Toll-Free: 877-322-8228
Mail a completed Annual Credit Report Request Form to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5281
Forms may also be obtained by calling 717-787-2991
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To establish or maintain good credit:
. Pay bills on time and catch up on any missed payments.
. Only apply for and open new credit accounts when needed. Your credit limits, even when not reached, show your potential for debt.
. Try to keep credit card balances low.
. Check your three credit reports for accuracy.
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Your credit report contains important information about you such as your account history, credit limits, timeliness of bill payments and outstanding debt.
Checking your credit report can help you detect identity theft by showing whether unauthorized inquiries and applications for credit have been made, or if accounts have been opened in your name.
Creditors use your credit report to make decisions about you when you apply for a loan, a credit card, insurance, or employment. Your credit information determines if you qualify to receive a loan and the interest rate you will pay.
There are three nationwide consumer reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You are able to receive a FREE report once a year from each of these companies. You can get all three at the same time, or space them out throughout the year. Not all consumer reporting companies collect the same information about you, which is why it is valuable to see what each one is reporting and confirm that the information as accurate. The companies have set up a shared Web site, toll-free phone number, and mailing address for you to request your free credit report.
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After you submit a request, the three consumer reporting companies may seek further information from you BY MAIL.
If you receive an e-mail or phone call requesting information, DO NOT respond, and report any such activity to the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at the e-mail address:
spam@uce.gov.
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Is your report accurate?
Be sure to check your report for accuracy. It is your right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to request that the information provider (i.e. any person, company, or organization with whom you have done business) and the reporting company correct inaccurate or incomplete information about you. If you find an error, contact both the consumer reporting company and the information provider immediately.
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If you think you are a victim of identity theft call:
FTC Identity Theft Hotline
877-438-4338
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What is a credit score?
A credit score is a number based on an analysis of information from your credit report. Lenders and others use your credit score to help determine if you qualify for a loan, credit card, or services. The higher the number, the less risk the person represents to lenders.
Your credit score is not included in your free report, but can be purchased from the consumer reporting companies.
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For more information:
Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
877-382-4357
Consumer Federation of America
www.consumerfed.org
202-387-6121
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