Take Charge

To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumerreporting companies, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, call toll-free1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailit to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA30348-5281. The form is at the back of this booklet, or you can print it fromwww.ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reportingcompanies individually. They provide free annual credit reports only throughwww.annualcreditreport.com, 1-877-322-8228, and Annual Credit ReportRequest Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports onlineto be sure to correctly spell www.annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from theFTC’s website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedlyfree reports, but only with the purchase of other products. While consumersmay be offered additional products or services while on the authorizedwebsite, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annualcredit reports.For more information,see Your Access to Free Credit Reports,a publication from the FTC,at www.ftc.gov/credit.Other Consumer Rights to Free ReportsUnder federal law, you’re entitled to a free report if a company takes adverseaction against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance, oremployment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving noticeof the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone numberof the consumer reporting company. You’re also entitled to one free report ayear if you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; you’re onwelfare; or your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a consumerreporting company may charge you up to $10.50 for another copy of yourreport within a 12-month period.28 Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft