Credit Tips: How To Get a Free Credit Report

Posted On: January 1, 2006

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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:00 pm
Post subject: How To Get a Free Credit Report

Eugene
Date: 3/6/2001 2:12 pm CDT

It’s time to check my credit report, and, silly me, I want to do that for free. The thing is, the good old days when I could just apply, get denied and get the report for free, are over. Now if I apply, there is a good chance that they approve me and I won’t see any report and will end up with an nquiry and an account I do not want.

I was thinking of calling the CRAs and telling them I suspect fraud in my name to get the reports for free. Do they immediately put fraud alert flag on the account in this case, or can I ask them not to? If I can, what are good ways to explain that? Obviously, I don’t want that flag.

What’s your experience? Were you able to get the report for free and avoid unwanted marks?

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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:00 pm
Post subject: How To Get a Free Credit Report

LKH
Date: 3/6/2001 9:45 pm CDT

You could go to www.worthknowing.com and get your tu report for free.

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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:01 pm
Post subject: How To Get a Free Credit Report

Linda in VA
Date: 3/6/2001 11:08 pm CDT

Have you got an AmEx card, Eugene? They have a new credit monitoring service. The first month is free and you get combined report from the big 3, then sign up at $7.99 a month, and cancel ASAP.

I am trying the service - it is supposed to monitor all 3 CRA’s, notifes you of inquiries and derogatory information. Worth every penny IMHO, if it really works. That’s why I took the monthly payment option.

I’ll let y’all know if it’s any good.

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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:01 pm
Post subject: How To Get a Free Credit Report
Eugene
Date: 3/7/2001 5:53 am CDT

People at another board already boo-ed me for even thinking of lying for $8, so I am ashamed.

I don’t like those free credit report sites, and the merged reports as well (call me picky), so I’ll just order the reports from the CRAs directly, I guess. It’s just to feed my curiosity, anyways.

As for credit monitoring, Citibank offered it to me on very similar terms some time ago. I decided to pass. My credit file is not really thick, not many accounts, not many updates monthly, not a high chance of creditors screw up, and I think the cost is not worth it for me.