annual credit report

If you use any kind of electronic commerce--credit cards, atm, on-line bill pay, etc--you must be vigilant in regards to your identity. While I don't know about all states, Virginia passed a law allowing Virginians one free credit report check per 12 months. I check mine around tax time, just to pick a time and it is good just to review and keep up to date with how creditors determine your credit score.

This is what the FTC has to say . . . actually now that I read it, everyone should be able to use it.

"A recent amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. But there’s only one online source authorized to do so. That’s annualcreditreport.com. Beware of other sites that may look and sound similar. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC’s website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports, but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized web site."

I actually just did mine. You have to put in all your sensitive information and then it asks you about a recent payment, so you may have to get out a recent bill if you don't know it off the top of your head. It will offer you a credit score--which is not free--but the report will tell you about the accounts you have opened and what other creditors are looking at when considering offering you a loan.

Anyway, if you haven't done it, I would encourage you to do so. :)