CHECK UP ON CHOICEPOINT
Recent revelations that data merchant ChoicePoint gave crooks credit data about hundreds of thousands of Americans highlights the importance of a new federal law giving consumers free access to their credit reports, including ChoicePoint reports. Residents of Western States have had the right since December 1, 2004 and residents of Midwestern States gain the right on March 1, 2005.
Reviewing credit reports is also important because a recent US PIRG study found 79% of credit reports had errors and 25% had errors serious enough to result in the denial of credit. Lenders are not the only ones who consult credit reports. Credit reports are used by insurers to set rates, landlords to make leasing decisions and by the US Government for security clearances and to locate criminals and terrorists.
Free copies of ChoicePoint reports are a little hard to find. ChoicePoint does not participate in the single point of entry for free credit reports maintained by the three largest credit bureaus. For ChoicePoint reports, consumers can go online to www.choicetrust.com. Consumers can also request a report, or a mail-in form, by calling three separate numbers. The first is for insurance reports, 866-312-8076. The second is for employment history reports, 866-312-8075. The third is for tenant history reports, 877-448-5732.
The single point of entry for free credit reports from the three largest credit bureaus is www.annualcreditreport.com. Consumers can also order the reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by mailing in a form found on the web site or on the back of a brochure available from the federal trade commission (www.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357 and navigate the menu until you can request the brochure from a real person).
The safest mode for ordering credit reports is by mail. Consumers should also ask the credit bureau to truncate the numbers on the printed report so it is not as damaging if it falls into the wrong hands.
Federal law gives consumers a useful tool to protect their interests. Most consumers are not yet accustomed to reviewing their credit reports annually. But a changed world where crooks buy private credit data directly from the credit bureau calls for new strategies.
More information and links to the sites in this letter is available on line at CHECK UP ON CHOICEPOINT
Recent revelations that data merchant ChoicePoint gave crooks credit data about hundreds of thousands of Americans highlights the importance of a new federal law giving consumers free access to their credit reports, including ChoicePoint reports. Residents of Western States have had the right since December 1, 2004 and residents of Midwestern States gain the right on March 1, 2005.
Reviewing credit reports is also important because a recent US PIRG study found 79% of credit reports had errors and 25% had errors serious enough to result in the denial of credit. Lenders are not the only ones who consult credit reports. Credit reports are used by insurers to set rates, landlords to make leasing decisions and by the US Government for security clearances and to locate criminals and terrorists.
Free copies of ChoicePoint reports are a little hard to find. ChoicePoint does not participate in the single point of entry for free credit reports maintained by the three largest credit bureaus. For ChoicePoint reports, consumers can go online to www.choicetrust.com. Consumers can also request a report, or a mail-in form, by calling three separate numbers. The first is for insurance reports, 866-312-8076. The second is for employment history reports, 866-312-8075. The third is for tenant history reports, 877-448-5732.
The single point of entry for free credit reports from the three largest credit bureaus is www.annualcreditreport.com. Consumers can also order the reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by mailing in a form found on the web site or on the back of a brochure available from the federal trade commission (www.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357 and navigate the menu until you can request the brochure from a rea
Slashdot Mirror
CHECK UP ON CHOICEPOINT Recent revelations that data merchant ChoicePoint gave crooks credit data about hundreds of thousands of Americans highlights the importance of a new federal law giving consumers free access to their credit reports, including ChoicePoint reports. Residents of Western States have had the right since December 1, 2004 and residents of Midwestern States gain the right on March 1, 2005. Reviewing credit reports is also important because a recent US PIRG study found 79% of credit reports had errors and 25% had errors serious enough to result in the denial of credit. Lenders are not the only ones who consult credit reports. Credit reports are used by insurers to set rates, landlords to make leasing decisions and by the US Government for security clearances and to locate criminals and terrorists. Free copies of ChoicePoint reports are a little hard to find. ChoicePoint does not participate in the single point of entry for free credit reports maintained by the three largest credit bureaus. For ChoicePoint reports, consumers can go online to www.choicetrust.com. Consumers can also request a report, or a mail-in form, by calling three separate numbers. The first is for insurance reports, 866-312-8076. The second is for employment history reports, 866-312-8075. The third is for tenant history reports, 877-448-5732. The single point of entry for free credit reports from the three largest credit bureaus is www.annualcreditreport.com. Consumers can also order the reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by mailing in a form found on the web site or on the back of a brochure available from the federal trade commission (www.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357 and navigate the menu until you can request the brochure from a real person). The safest mode for ordering credit reports is by mail. Consumers should also ask the credit bureau to truncate the numbers on the printed report so it is not as damaging if it falls into the wrong hands. Federal law gives consumers a useful tool to protect their interests. Most consumers are not yet accustomed to reviewing their credit reports annually. But a changed world where crooks buy private credit data directly from the credit bureau calls for new strategies. More information and links to the sites in this letter is available on line at CHECK UP ON CHOICEPOINT Recent revelations that data merchant ChoicePoint gave crooks credit data about hundreds of thousands of Americans highlights the importance of a new federal law giving consumers free access to their credit reports, including ChoicePoint reports. Residents of Western States have had the right since December 1, 2004 and residents of Midwestern States gain the right on March 1, 2005. Reviewing credit reports is also important because a recent US PIRG study found 79% of credit reports had errors and 25% had errors serious enough to result in the denial of credit. Lenders are not the only ones who consult credit reports. Credit reports are used by insurers to set rates, landlords to make leasing decisions and by the US Government for security clearances and to locate criminals and terrorists. Free copies of ChoicePoint reports are a little hard to find. ChoicePoint does not participate in the single point of entry for free credit reports maintained by the three largest credit bureaus. For ChoicePoint reports, consumers can go online to www.choicetrust.com. Consumers can also request a report, or a mail-in form, by calling three separate numbers. The first is for insurance reports, 866-312-8076. The second is for employment history reports, 866-312-8075. The third is for tenant history reports, 877-448-5732. The single point of entry for free credit reports from the three largest credit bureaus is www.annualcreditreport.com. Consumers can also order the reports by calling 877-322-8228 or by mailing in a form found on the web site or on the back of a brochure available from the federal trade commission (www.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357 and navigate the menu until you can request the brochure from a rea